LONDON (MarketWatch) — European stocks gained ground Tuesday, with better-than-expected data from Germany and Spain providing an upbeat developments for both the powerhouse and a peripheral economy in the eurozone. The Stoxx Europe 600 SXXP, -0.01% rose 0.2% to 392.21, sticking close to its best level since 2007. The index is also moving closer to its record close of 450.50, reached in March 2000, according to FactSet data. Germany’s DAX 30 DAX, -0.02% was on track for its 21st record close of the year, rising 0.3% to 11,441.23 after retail sales in Europe’s largest economy rose 2.9% in January on a month-over-month basis. That reading beat expectations of a 0.3% decline from a Wall Street Journal poll of economists. Sales climbed 5.3% on a 12-month basis, the fastest growth rate since June 2010. Spain’s IBEX 35 IBEX, -0.49% rose 0.2% to 11,201.70, on track for its fourth straight gain and the best close since April 2010, according to FactSet data. The move came after Spain’s jobless claims unexpectedly fell by a seasonally adjusted 13,538 in February. Meanwhile, the U.K.’s FTSE 100 UKX, -0.11% rose 0.2% to 6,953.64, hovering at a fresh record close, as shares of Tullow Oil PLC TLW, +4.07% won back a portion their nearly 8% loss in the previous session. But shares of Barclays PLC BARC, -3.29% and Glencore PLC GLEN, -2.08% dropped following financial updates. France’s CAC 40 PX1, -0.04% rose 0.3% to 4,934.18, after Monday’s decline of 0.7%. Meanwhile, Greece’s Athex Composite GD, +1.06% rose 1.8% to 874.30, and Russia’s Micex index XX:MCX gained 1.7% to 1,814.91.

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