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The benchmark FTSEurofirst 300 was up 1.1 per cent to 853.91 points at 11:43 BST, Reuters reports.
Energy companies performed strongly during the morning session, with Royal Dutch Shell, BG Group and BP all rising on the back of increasing crude oil prices.
And companies operating in the financial sector also performed well. As Lloyds Banking Group, Royal Bank of Scotland, Banco Santander and Societe Generale rose by as much as four per cent.
"Clients remain long on the main European markets with little deviation from the last few trading sessions," market strategist Joshua Raymond explained.
He added that trading has been "very quiet" ahead of the forthcoming summer holiday period, with many movements based on upgrades from brokers.
This was the base with Lloyds, he stated, as the bank's share price had risen following a "bullish" note from Goldman Sachs.
