Brussels, February 24 (QNA) – European stock indices closed higher Tuesday, supported by gains in several key sectors.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index rose 0.2 percent, nearing the record high it reached in last Friday's session.

At the national level, the French CAC 40 index rose 0.26 percent to 8,519 points, while the British FTSE 100 index remained stable at 10,680 points, as did the German DAX index at 24,986 points.

Basic metals mining stocks recorded the biggest gains, rising 1.5 percent, coinciding with copper prices climbing to their highest level in over a week. They were followed by consumer staples and utilities stocks.

Shares of companies linked to the semiconductor industry also saw significant gains following the announcement by US-based Advanest Micro Devices of a deal with Meta Platforms to supply artificial intelligence chips worth up to $60 billion.

Conversely, bank stocks fell by 1.3 percent amid renewed concerns about the impact of newer AI models on traditional banking, while financial services stocks lost about 0.3 percent. (QNA)