STOXX Europe 600 Hits New Record as Regional Stocks Extend Weekly Gain

European equities advanced on Friday, with the region-wide STOXX Europe 600 Index closing above its March record and notching a fresh all-time high. Broad-based gains across major bourses lifted the benchmark, underscoring investor confidence amid a quieter summer trading period. The blue-chip STOXX Europe 50 added 1.58% for the week to finish at 4,626.06. National gauges also ended higher on the day: the UK’s FTSE 100 rose 0.2%, Germany’s DAX gained 0.32%, France’s CAC 40 increased 0.5% and Spain’s IBEX 35 advanced 0.7%.