(Reuters) - European shares rose for a third straight session on Wednesday as optimism around a COVID-19 vaccine overshadowed concerns about the economic damage from a second wave of coronavirus infections across the continent.
The pan-European STOXX 600 (STOXX) gained 0.4%, building on a 5% rally this week, as investors bought into banks (SX7P) and travel-related stocks (SXTP), both sectors that have widely underperformed this year.
Technology stocks (SX8P), which have tracked a surge in their U.S. counterparts since the coronavirus-driven crash in March, fell 0.5%.
Dutch bank ABN Amro (AS:ABNd) dropped 3.4% even after it beat analysts' expectations, while German auto supplier Continental (DE:CONG) slid 1.6% as it warned of further restructuring expenses in the fourth quarter.