FX.co ★ European Stocks Close Higher

European stocks experienced a rise on Tuesday, slightly advancing from a subdued start to the month. Investors continued to evaluate the global interest rate outlook. The Eurozone's STOXX 50 index increased by 0.5%, reaching 5,690, while the broader STOXX 600 edged marginally above break-even to 576. Expectations persist that the European Central Bank will maintain its current interest rates in upcoming meetings, following an unexpected rise in the bloc's headline inflation rate to 2.2% in November. Despite this, banking stocks ended the day higher as stability in Japanese government bonds alleviated concerns about rising euro yields. Consequently, shares of BNP Paribas and ING each climbed close to 2%. Additionally, Santander saw a 1.5% increase in its share price after divesting a 3.5% stake in its Polish subsidiary, securing $473 million. In another development, Bayer's shares soared over 12% after the Trump administration advocated for the U.S. Supreme Court to review the company's appeal to dismiss numerous lawsuits claiming that its Roundup weedkiller is a carcinogen.