On Tuesday European stocks advanced, with the benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 Index rebounding from a one-month low, as commodities rallied. Asian shares and U.S. index futures increased.

BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s biggest mining company, and Rio Tinto Group, the third largest, both gained 1.7 percent as metal prices rose. Travis Perkins Plc climbed 3.9 percent after Jefferies Group Inc. recommended buying the company’s shares.

European shares bounced back on technical buying and a rebound in mining equities, although investor sentiment remained fragile on persistent concerns about the euro zone sovereign debt crisis. That caution was compounded after Moody's gave a bearish assessment of the impact of any Greek debt default on other peripheral euro zone states.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was up after falling 1.7 percent on Monday following a cut in credit ratings for Greece and a "negative" outlook for Italy. Greek shares jumped 1.4 percent, helped by a 3-percent rise in banking stocks after the government announced it would sell its full stake in the small lender Hellenic Postbank by the end of this year. Hellenic rose 10 percent, while Greek telecom OTE was up 5.6 percent after Greece said it would sell up to 16 percent in the firm in the second quarter.

Miners featured among the top gainers, with the sector index rising after steep falls on Monday. Miners were supported by a recovery in key base metals prices after investment bank Goldman Sachs said it expected China to pick up the pace of metals purchases in the coming months. Automobile shares also gained on bargain hunting after steep losses in the previous two sessions.

Asian stocks rose, snapping three straight days of losses, as commodity prices advanced after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. suggested buying oil, copper and zinc and as Sony Corp. said it expects to turn to profit.

This article was compiled by Valletta Fund Management Limited, a member of the BOV Group. Valletta Fund Management,

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