European stocks close higher as Euro Stoxx 50 gains 0.9%

European cash markets ended firmer, with the Euro Stoxx 50 up 0.9 percent at the close. The DAX finished 1.24 percent higher, while the CAC 40 rose 1.19 percent and the FTSE 100 gained 1.48 percent. Among UK volume leaders, Lloyds Banking Group gained 0.85 percent, BP fell 0.49 percent, Barclays added 0.74 percent, HSBC advanced 1.96 percent and GSK rose 1.85 percent. On the continent, UBS was up 0.31 percent, Deutsche Telekom slipped 1.87 percent, Novartis climbed 1.52 percent, Nestle gained 0.86 percent and SAP rose 0.77 percent.