European stocks rose after falling for the first week in more than a month, as carmakers and technology companies gained. Vivendi SA climbed 2.5 percent after Qatar Telecom QSC said it raised $12 billion to finance its bid for the French media and telecommunications company’s stake in Maroc Telecom SA. Fiat SpA advanced 3.6 percent as Italy’s industry minister asked the carmaker what it needs to keep its plants in the country. Club Mediterranee SA, the French holiday-resort operator, jumped 22 percent after saying that it got a bid from two shareholders. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index climbed 0.2 percent to 303.88 at 3:19 p.m. in Frankfurt. European stocks fell last week as investors debated when the Federal Reserve will scale back monetary stimulus, while a report showed Chinese manufacturing unexpectedly shrank. Equity markets in the U.S. and U.K. are closed for holidays today. “We have seen quite a strong correction, especially in the U.S., and it seems like some investors think that the correction is over and they are prepared to go back into the market,� Raimund Saxinger, a fund manager at Frankfurt-Trust Investment GmbH, which oversees about $22 billion, said in a telephone interview. “The closure of the U.K. market is certainly an important influence as liquidity is quite thin and there is not much action to be expected.� The volume of shares changing hands in Stoxx 600 companies was 60 percent lower than the average of the last 30 days, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. National benchmark indexes climbed in 14 of the 17 western European markets open today. France’s CAC 40 and Germany’s DAX each rose 0.7 percent. Vivendi Stake Vivendi rose 2.5 percent to 15.55 euros. Qatar Telecom, which recently changed its name to Ooredoo, is competing with Emirates Telecommunications Corp. to buy Vivendi’s Maroc Telecom stake and both made binding offers in April. Vivendi wants to complete the sale by October, people familiar with the matter said April 29. Fiat, Italy’s largest carmaker, climbed 3.6 percent to 5.62 euros, its highest price since August 2011. The Italian government will ask Chief Executive officer Sergio Marchionne what it “can do to let the carmaker keep its plants in Italy,� Industry Minister Flavio Zanonato said in a television interview with Sky Tg24. “We should find a way to match Fiat’s interest with the country’s,� he said. Club Mediterranee soared 22 percent to 16.96 euros, its biggest gain on record. The French all-inclusive tour operator said it received a takeover bid from management and its two largest shareholders, Axa Private Equity and Fosun International Ltd., that values the company at 540 million euros ($699 million). SAP Gains SAP AG added 2.4 percent to 60.11 euros. The world’s largest maker of business-management software has ended discussions to acquire Jive Software Inc., which has a market value of more than $1 billion, people familiar with the matter said. SAP quit talks with Jive, which makes social-networking applications for businesses, after a thorough review of the company, said the people, who asked not to be named because the matter is private. Commerzbank AG advanced 4.8 percent to 8.04 euros. Shares in Germany’s second-biggest lender have fallen 25 percent this year. Equinet Bank AG upgraded its rating on the stock to buy from sell. “While the market environment remains tough for Commerzbank and the risks are still significant, we think that the decline in share price has been too much,� Equinet analysts wrote. “Hence, we see now an interesting buying opportunity for speculative investors.� Praktiker AG tumbled 8 percent to 94.8 euro cents, the lowest price since the German home-improvement retailer sold shares to the public in November 2005. Commerzbank downgraded the stock to sell from reduce, saying that cold, wet weather has hurt demand for the company’s products. To contact the reporter on this story: Jonathan Morgan in Frankfurt at jmorgan157@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew Rummer at arummer@bloomberg.net

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