UPDATED (11:40 p.m. ET)
Italian markets led a broad European rally into the close, with the Milan based FTSE MIB up nearly two percent.
The Italian Borsa gained 1.9 percent to 13,703, followed closely by Spain's IBEX 35, which advanced 1.5 percent to 6,795.
The Borsa has partially erased some of its losses this year, although it remains more than 9 percent in the red year-to-date. Leading the market higher were gains at Mediobanca, Mediolanum and Finmeccanica.
British, German, and French markets saw moderate improvements, inching up 0.6, 0.4, and 0.3 percent, respectively.
Below, today's FTSE MIB movement.
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Image may be NSFW.
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Clik here to view.
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