European stocks at highest level in eight months

The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.4% to hit its highest level in more than eight months, and despite fears of an economy shutdown, the STOXX 600 is still on its way to its best month ever. Shares in British RSA Insurance RSA.L rose 4.6% after it backed a £ 7.2 billion cash offer from Canadian Intact Financial and Danish Tryg in one of Europe's biggest takeover offers this year. Deutsche Bourse DB1Gn.DE rose 2.4% after the German stock exchange operator said it would acquire an 80% stake in Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) corporate governance advisor for $ 1.8 billion.