Brussels, April 01 (QNA) – European stocks continued their upward trend Wednesday, with the pan-European Stoxx 600 index recording its biggest three-day gain in nearly a year.

The Stoxx 600 index rose 2.5 percent to 597.69 points, driven by a 5.9 percent jump in the defense sector and a 4.5 percent advance in the banking sector.

The UK's FTSE 100 index climbed by approximately 1.9 percent, Germany's DAX index rose 2.7 percent, and France's CAC 40 index gained 2.1 percent. (QNA)