European stocks up but Greek shares fall

EUROPEAN stocks rebounded from their biggest two-day drop since April, helped by a rally in German shares.

But Greek shares fell amid a debt impasse. By the close in Dublin, the ISEQ Overall Index closed up 0.07pc or 4.56 points to end the trading session at 6,172.81.

The leaders on the Dublin market included packaging giant Smurfit Kappa, which rose 1.9pc to €26.48, while Aer Lingus was up 1.1pc to €2.40.

On the other side of the board, the laggards included food ingredients company Kerry Group, which dropped 0.7pc to €67.29. Drinks group C&C fell 0.3pc to €3.54.

Elsewhere, the Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 0.6pc to 385.49 at the close of trading. It reversed losses of 1.1pc after the European Commission said it would restart talks with Greece if offered new proposals.

Germany’s DAX Index also swung to gains, rising 0.5pc as a drop in the euro helped exporters.

Spanish and Portuguese shares erased declines exceeding 1.5pc.

“Stocks will recover once people refocus on improving fundamentals without distractions fogging up the picture,” said Michael Woischneck of Lampe Asset Management in Dusseldorf. “We can contain any fallout from Greece, especially for Spain, Ireland and Portugal.”

Greece’s ASE Index fell 4.8pc, completing the biggest three-day drop since anti-austerity party Syriza took charge in January.

Weekend negotiations to find a deal that will help Greece avert default and stay in the euro area ended in acrimony, sending shares lower yesterday. The region’s finance chiefs meet tomorrow in Luxembourg.

Investors are also watching for cues on the timing of a US rate increase, with Federal Reserve officials starting a two-day meeting yesterday.

Rates are expected to remain unchanged.