European Shares Rise on Utilities And Real Estate

European shares rose, as investors sought safety in defensive sectors such as utilities and real estate on persistent concerns that the spread of mutated strains of the coronavirus would undermine the global economic recovery.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index rose 0.2%, extending gains after a strong recovery on Friday.

Utilities, real estate, and financial services stocks rose between 0.5% and 1%, while banking, mining, and economic-sensitive auto shares fell.