European Shares Gain Ahead of ECB Meeting as Euro Strengthens

European stocks gained and the euro strengthened after Standard & Poor’s raised its outlook on Portugal’s credit rating before central bank policy meetings in the region. Asian stocks fell from a 19-month high and the British pound slid to its weakest level since July 2010.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.1 percent as of 8.08 a.m. in London, while Standard & Poor’s 500 Index futures added