MW: European shares start 2009 trading with modest gains
European shares started the first trading session of 2009 mostly higher, led by gains in the mining sector as well as a good start to the session for many banking stocks. Shares in BHP Billiton rose 1.5% in London and Societe Generale added 2.6% in Paris. The French CAC 40 index gained 0.7% at 3,240.26 and the German DAX 30 index rose 1.2% at 4,869.60. The U.K.' FTSE 100 edged slightly higher, gaining 0.1% at 4,436.42.
