European stocks extend gains in early tradin - The Best from Greece

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- The Stoxx Europe 600 index XX:SXXP +0.39% moved up 0.38% to 243.15 in early trading Friday. Germany's DAX 30 index DX:DAX +0.33% climbed 0.32% to 6,152.02. France's CAC-40 index FR:PX1 +0.77% traded 0.58% higher at 3,213.18 in Paris. In London, the benchmark FTSE 100 index UK:UKX +0.40% advanced 0.37% at 5,565.25. In the prior session, stocks in Europe rose after the European Central Bank cut interest rates, and following indications that Greece would abandon its plan to hold a referendum on the euro-zone bailout plan. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index ended 2.1% higher Thursday. Markets across Asia rallied on Friday, with exporters and resource-related stocks leading advancers in that region.