25.07.201721:21:00UTC+00European Markets Rise as Banks, Miners Gain

A rally in banks helped lift the European stocks to their first gain in four days, as earnings reports also pushed some shares.

The Pan-European Stoxx 600 Index closed 0.4 percent higher.

Earnings seasons continues to be the focus for equities investors although they will also turn their attention on the two-day U.S. Federal Reserve meeting.

Corporate results gathered steam as British business media group Informa and Dutch staffing company Randstad rose 2.7 and 4.9 percent respectively after better first-half updates.

Anglo American climbed 6.1 percent, lifting miners higher, after its South African iron-ore unit reinstated its dividend.

Miner Antofagasta was the best performer on the STOXX. The mining sector was supported by a jump in copper prices.

Banks were the second-largest contributors to gains, as Banco Sabadell rose 3.7 percent. Swiss Re AG agreed to spend nearly 684 million euros ($796 million) for a portfolio of retail life policies held by a venture that is partly owned by Sabadell.

Raiffeisen outperformed, rising 6.8 percent, after second-quarter profit nearly tripled to 365 million euros ($425.41 million), supported by trims in bad debt provisions.

The tech sector saw iPhone supplier AMS and mobile speaker maker Logitech advance in initial deals after both companies improved their outlook. However, both stocks reversed courses as tech stocks in the U.S. lost ground.