Credit: REUTERS/STAFFFor a live blog on European stocks, type LIVE/ in an Eikon news window
Aug 24 (Reuters) - European stocks bounced from a two-week low on Monday as signs of progress in developing a COVID-19 treatment offset fears about a resurgence in virus cases across the continent that could risk stifling an economic recovery.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX rose 1.3% by 0713 GMT, mirroring gains for Asian markets after the U.S. health regulator said on Sunday it authorized the use of blood plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 as a treatment.
Technology .SX8P, mining .SXPP and chemical .SX4P companies led the surge in early European trading, gaining more than 1.5%.
AstraZeneca Plc AZN.L was up 2.1% after the Financial Times reported the Trump administration was considering fast-tracking an experimental COVID-19 vaccine being developed by the company.
The gains come after a lacklustre week for European equities, which were pressured by data pointing to a stalling business recovery in the euro zone amid a surge in coronavirus cases.
British telecoms company BT Group BT.L jumped 6.1% to the top of STOXX 600 after a media report that its board was preparing to defend it against takeover approaches from rivals and buyout firms.
(Reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)
((sruthi.shankar@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 6182 2787;))
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
