FTSE 100 down 0.25%; DAX up 0.30%; CAC 40 up 0.10% (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milan, 16 Aug - European shares opened moderately higher, extending a recent rebound amid strong global markets. The Stoxx 600 index was up 0.23% in early trade.

The regional index was up more than 2% so far this week, on track for its best performance since May 10.

The region's stock markets tracked gains on Wall Street overnight after US strong retail sales data fuelled hopes that concerns over a recession in the world's biggest economy were overblown.

In European stock market dealings most sectors were higher, with banks and auto shares among the biggest advancers.

At 0728 GMT the London FTSE 100 was was down 0.25% at 8,326 points, the Frankfurt DAX was up 0.30% at 17,235 points, the Paris CAC 40 up 0.10% at 7,430 points, while in Milan the FTSE MIB was up 1.90% at 32,943 points, and in Madrid the IBEX 35 was up 0.13% at 10,900 points.

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(RADIOCOR) 16-08-24 09:38:14 (0150) 5 NNNN