European Stocks End Week on 1.5% Decline

European stocks closed higher on Friday, supported by big gains by the banking sector and hopes for a new COVID-19 stimulus package in the United States.

The STOXX Europe 600 index closed up by 0.49% at 362.01, limiting its weekly decline to around 1.5%.

The UK’s FTSE100 finished higher by 1.29%, while the German DAX added 0.82%.

Meanwhile, the French CAC40 index closed the last session of the week up by 1.20%.