The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.8 per cent yesterday, just enough to register its fourth straight weekly rise and seven points short of a record high. — Reuters picLONDON, March 27 — European stocks ended the week close to all-time highs, with miners prominent as investors shrugged off worries about a third wave of coronavirus infections and focused on prospects of a solid global economic recovery.
Led by chipmakers, notably ASML and ASM International, the STOXX 600 tech index rose 2.7 per cent, posting its biggest weekly gain since early November. Though the market has been driven mainly by third wave concerns and slower vaccinations in continental Europe over the past week, Gheedia sees supply picking up sharply over the next few weeks.With rising hopes of a strong economic recovery, the world’s largest steelmaker, Arcelormittal, rose 7.4 per cent, while shares in Rio Tinto, Glencore and BHP Group were up between 3.7 per cent and 5 per cent.