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The pan-European STOXX 600 index (STOXX) rose 1.3% by 0713 GMT, mirroring gains for Asian markets after the U.S. health regulator said on Sunday it authorized the use of blood plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 as a treatment.
Technology (SX8P), mining (SXPP) and chemical (SX4P) companies led the surge in early European trading, gaining more than 1.5%.
AstraZeneca Plc (L:AZN) was up 2.1% after the Financial Times reported the Trump administration was considering fast-tracking an experimental COVID-19 vaccine being developed by the company.
The gains come after a lacklustre week for European equities, which were pressured by data pointing to a stalling business recovery in the euro zone amid a surge in coronavirus cases.
British telecoms company BT Group (L:BT) jumped 6.1% to the top of STOXX 600 after a media report that its board was preparing to defend it against takeover approaches from rivals and buyout firms.
