European shares rise, lifted by banks and energy companies
LONDON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - European shares rose on Monday, marking a slight rebound after two straight weeks of losses, as gains in banking and energy company shares lifted the region's stock markets.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index, which had fallen to a six-week low on Friday, rose 0.7 percent.
A rise in the shares of heavyweight banking stocks, which had slumped on Friday following a threatened $14 billion fine on Deutsche Bank (LSE: 0H7D.L - news) from U.S. authorities, added the most points to European stock markets.
Royal Bank of Scotland (LSE: RBS.L - news) rose 0.8 percent, as Investec raised its rating on the stock to "hold" from "sell", although Deutsche Bank fell by another 2 percent, extending losses following an 8.5 percent slump in the stock on Sept. 16.
Firmer oil prices also propped up markets, with the STOXX Europe 600 Oil & Gas index advancing 0.8 percent. (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Hugh Lawson)