European stocks attempt rebound from Ukraine selloff

LONDON, United Kingdom — Europe's major stock markets attempted to rebound Friday, one day after slumping as Russia invaded Ukraine.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index of leading blue-chip companies advanced 1.3% shortly after the open.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX won 0.4% and the Paris CAC 40 gained 0.7%, shedding some of their initial gains.

Asian equities also bounced back as investors took their lead from a rally on Wall Street after Washington decided against imposing the stiffest sanctions on Russia.

"Traders have assessed the current risk and sanctions imposed on Russia," AvaTrade analyst Naeem Aslam told AFP.

"They believe that... the selloff is an opportunity to bag some bargains. 

"Hence stocks are moving higher."

Europe's key indices had each tumbled by about four% on Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a wide-ranging attack on neighbouring Ukraine, while oil prices had rocketed past $100 for the first time since 2014.

Putin's decision to send troops into Ukraine sent shockwaves through global markets as traders contemplated a major conflict in Eastern Europe.