Sept. 1 (Bloomberg) -- European stocks rose, led by a rally in commodity producers and media companies, after Chinese manufacturing accelerated and Vivendi SA raised its earnings forecasts. U.S. index futures and Asian equities climbed. Xstrata Plc and Antofagasta Plc advanced more than 2.5 percent as copper climbed to a four-month high. Vivendi, owner of the world's largest record company, rallied 3.8 percent. Vinci SA, the world's biggest builder, surged 3.2 percent as earnings topped estimates. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index climbed 1.1 percent to 254.06 at 12:42 p.m. in London, having earlier lost as much as 0.2 percent. The gauge dropped 1.6 percent last month after disappointing economic data from the U.S. sparked concern the world's biggest economy may tip back into recession. "We're seeing China step into the breach where we see weakness in the U.S.," Gunnar Miller, Frankfurt-based head of research at Allianz Global Investors' RCM unit, said on Bloomberg Television's 'On The Move' with Mark Barton. "We don't expect a double dip, we're expecting a moderation in growth dynamics." The MSCI Asia Pacific Index surged 1.5 percent today after China's purchasing managers' index rose to 51.7 from 51.2, according to a government-backed report, signaling the economy's slowdown will be limited. A separate PMI released by HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics gained to 51.9 from 49.4. Australian Growth In Australia, second-quarter gross domestic product advanced 1.2 percent from a revised 0.7 percent in the prior period. That beat economists' forecasts and was the fastest pace in three years. Standard & Poor's 500 Index futures gained 1.1 percent today before a report on U.S. manufacturing. The Institute for Supply Management's factory index, due at 10 a.m. New York time, dropped to 52.7 in August from 55.5 in July, according to the median estimate of 78 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. Readings greater than 50 signal growth. At 8:15 a.m., ADP Employer Services may report 15,000 jobs were added by U.S. companies last month, the fewest since February, the survey shows. The data presages the Labor Department's Sept. 3 report that may show companies added 42,000 workers to their payrolls in August, down from 71,000 in July. 'Mixed Signals' "The economic figures from the U.S. and abroad have been very mixed," Manoj Ladwa, a London-based senior trader at ETX Capital, said on Bloomberg Television's 'On The Move' with Francine Lacqua. "In some areas there is increased unemployment and a slowing down in housing then you look to China and Australia. A lot of mixed signals creates uncertainty." Xstrata, the world's fourth-largest copper producer, gained 2.8 percent to 1,055 pence as the base metal advanced to the highest level since April in London. Antofagasta, owner of copper mines in Chile, rose 2.7 percent to 1,060 pence. Vivendi led media companies higher, rallying 3.8 percent to a fourth-month high of 19.10 euros as the owner of Universal Music Group raised its full-year targets. First-half profit gained 4 percent to 1.53 billion euros ($1.94 billion), topping the average analyst estimate of 1.49 billion euros. Vinci advanced 3.2 percent to 35.72, leading a measure of construction shares 1.9 percent higher. The builder reported a 1.9 percent increase in first-half profit to 703 million euros, beating analysts' average estimate of 681 according to a Bloomberg survey. Lafarge SA, the world's biggest cement maker, climbed 4.6 percent to 38.02 euros after being upgraded to "outperform" from "underperform" at Lafarge at CA Cheuvreux. Cable & Wireless Speculation Cable & Wireless Worldwide Plc rallied 5.2 percent to 70.3 pence amid speculation that AT&T Inc. or another firm may bid for the company. "The rumor is driving the share price," said Tom Gidley- Kitchin, an analyst with Charles Stanley Group Plc in London. The company has a large international communication network which AT&T or others looking to expand internationally could "potentially find helpful," he said. AT&T spokesman Niall Hickey said the company doesn't comment on market speculation. Cable & Wireless's spokespeople couldn't immediately be reached for comment. TUI Travel Plc surged 7.1 percent to 212.1 pence after the Financial Times Deutschland reported that TUI AG's directors are weighing the purchase of shares in TUI Travel that it doesn't already own. The newspaper didn't say where it obtained the information. TUI shares gained 2.7 percent to 8.17 euros. Bourbon SA dropped 3.7 percent to 29.01 euros. The owner of the second-biggest fleet of supply and crew ships for the oil industry said first-half earnings halved to 41 million euros due to charges related to the sale of bulk carriers. --With assistance from Chiara Remondini in Milan and Mark Barton and Francine Lacqua in London. Editor: Andrew Rummer.

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