Europe open: Shares edge ahead on Wall St, China data

(Sharecast News) - European shares crept ahead at the open on Wednesday on the back of a Wall Street and strong data from China. The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up 0.2% at 477.68, with major regional bourses mixed in the final trading week of the year.

Miners gained after data showed manufacturing activity in China improved last month.

In equity news, Vestas shares climbed more than 6% at one stag after the Danish wind turbine maker won a major order in Australia. Sector peer Siemens Energy gained on the news.

Bayer rose after the German chemicals company said it had won a trial in a lawsuit brought by a California man who said he developed cancer from exposure to its Roundup weedkiller.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com