By Barbara Kollmeyer
MADRID (MarketWatch) -- European stock markets rose on Friday, as upbeat data from the U.S. the prior session continued to resonate. Volumes were expected to be low ahead of the Christmas weekend and London will trade a shortened session. The Stoxx Europe 600 index XX:SXXP +0.86% rose 0.9% to 241.77, with banks, oil and mining stocks in the lead. The French CAC 40 index FR:PX1 +1.01% saw the biggest gains, up 1% to 3,104.37, and the German DAX 30 index DX:DAX +0.34% rose 0.9% to 5,897.49. The FTSE 100 index UK:UKX +1.02% rose 0.7% to 5,492.56.
