European shares end best week since end of MarchReutersEuropean shares marked their best week since the middle of March, ending Friday on a strong note as upbeat US data and easing bets about aggressive interest rate hikes lifted sentiment. The pan-European STOXX 600 rose for a third straight session, closing up 1.5 percent, taking weekly gains to 3 percent. Banks shone this week, up 6 percent as major central banks stayed on course to hike interest rates. Investors are watching for any updates from the European Central Bank (ECB), which is expected to begin its hiking cycle in July. The STOXX 600 is on track to end this month lower, leaving March as the only month it rose this year.
