The Dow Jones EuroStoxx index of the euro zone's 50 leading shares was up 1.4%, at 2256.78 points, around midday on the continent.

FORBES: Magazine Article

But as the rally off that low has progressed fear has disappeared, now measured at only 19 on the VIX Index, in the zone of low fear (high bullishness) usually seen near rally tops.

FORBES: February Deserves Its Bearish Reputation

The German Unemployment Change figures showed that 20K workers fell off the registry of the unemployed during June and the overall Euro zone Economic Sentiment Index improved to a reading of 101.3.

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The euro zone's purchasing-managers index, a gauge of manufacturing activity, fell in November to a level consistent with a 1% quarterly drop in gross domestic product, according to research firm Capital Economics.

WSJ: How to Play the Central-Bank Rescue

Not all Russell 1000 stocks break out their revenues geographically, but among those that do, RBC found that those with more than 20% of exposure to the Euro zone have significantly underperformed the broader index since July.

FORBES: Where Europe May Be Hiding In Your Portfolio

The Stoxx Europe 600 index climbed 2.4%, as signs of further weakening of the euro-zone economy sparked hopes of a shift away from austerity and toward policies that stimulate growth.

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