By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- European stock markets headed for their highest closing level in six years on Monday, with investors shrugging off earlier worries over tighter credit conditions in China and instead taking a lead from the U.S. where the S&P 500 scored an intraday record.

The Stoxx Europe 600 index gained 0.3% to 337.12, setting it on track for the highest close since January 2008. The benchmark wavered around the flat line earlier in the day, but tracked U.S. stocks higher when they opened with solid gains after posting losses at the end of last week.

Among notable movers, shares of Volkswagen AG slumped 6.9% after the German car maker late Friday offered to buy out minority shareholders in Scania AB for more than $9 billion. Scania shares surged 32%. The Swedish company said late Sunday it decided to appoint an independent committee to evaluate the Volkswagen offer.

Analysts at Barclays lifted the rating on Scania to equal weight from underweight after the buyout offer. J.P. Morgan Cazenove also lifted Scania to neutral from underweight.

Shares of PostNL NV slid 20%, after the Dutch mail-service firm reported a full-year loss that was wider than expected.

China credit worries

The broader European markets opened in negative territory after a weak session in Asia, where concerns over the Chinese property market dampened the investing mood. The Shanghai Composite closed 1.7% lower after local media reported that a medium-sized bank has tightened its financing to property developers and stubbornly high property prices triggered worries that Beijing could act as well.

Mining firms were hit by the data, with shares of Rio Tinto PLC (RIO) down 1.9% and BHP Billiton PLC (BHP) off 0.9%.

European investors largely ignored upbeat German data in the morning, showing German business confidence brightened for a fourth straight month in February. The Ifo business-climate survey climbed to a better-than-expected 111.3, from 110.6 in January.

Inflation data also drew attention in the euro zone. Eurostat, the European Union's official statistics agency, said euro-area consumer prices fell at the fastest rate since records began in 2001 in January from December, adding to fears of slower domestic demand in the region. Annual inflation was 0.8%, a bit higher than the 0.7% previously estimated.

Low inflation -- and the risk of deflation -- is one of the main concerns among European economists at the moment and market participants speculate if the worries will be enough to trigger a rate cut next week at the European Central Bank policy meeting. ECB President Mario Draghi said over the weekend that by its March 6 meeting, the ECB should have the information it needs to decide whether to provide more stimulus.

Preliminary inflation data out on Friday could add further pressure on the ECB to loosen policy to tame deflationary pressures, with most analysts expecting to see a further drop in annual inflation. Analysts at Société Générale said in a note that there is a 15% probability the euro zone will suffer deflation, which is a low risk, "but too high to ignore."

In a volatile session, Germany's DAX 30 index climbed 0.1% to 9,669.03. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index rose 0.1% to 6,843.84, and France's CAC 40 index advanced 0.5% to 4,403.12.

Shares of Dixons Retail PLC jumped 6.8% and Carphone Warehouse Group PLC rallied 8.8% in London after the two retailers confirmed they are in preliminary discussions about a potential merger.

Shares of Bunzl PLC picked up 6.9% after the distribution and outsourcing company reported an 8% rise in 2013 earnings per share.

Banking heavyweight HSBC Holdings PLC (HSBC) dropped 3.4% after reporting full-year earnings that missed expectations.

Elsewhere, Spain's IBEX 35 index climbed 1% to 10,168.10, after Moody's Investors Service late Friday lifted the country's credit rating to Baa2 from Baa3 with a positive outlook. The ratings company said Spain has rebalanced its economy toward a more sustainable growth model and improved its funding conditions since the height of the euro-zone debt crisis in mid-2012.

Stocks in Ukraine rallied, with the UX Index jumping 15% to 1,075.97, according to the Ukrainian Exchange website. The gain came after parliament members over the weekend voted to remove President Viktor Yanukovych after he had signed a deal with the opposition to resolve the recent political conflict in the country.

More must-reads from MarketWatch:

Mt. Gox CEO resigns from Bitcoin Foundation board

Risk on! Investors ran into stock funds at fastest pace in 3 months

Nokia debuts first Android phone, Nokia X

Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires

Bunzl (PK) (USOTC:BZLFY)
過去 株価チャート
から 5 2024 まで 6 2024 Bunzl (PK)のチャートをもっと見るにはこちらをクリック
Bunzl (PK) (USOTC:BZLFY)
過去 株価チャート
から 6 2023 まで 6 2024 Bunzl (PK)のチャートをもっと見るにはこちらをクリック