European stocks close

European stocks rose, rebounding from their first weekly loss in more than a month, as carmakers and technology companies gained.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index climbed 0.3 percent to 304.34 at the close of trading.

National benchmark indexes climbed in 15 of the 17 western European markets open today. France's CAC 40 added 1 percent and Germany's DAX gained 0.9 percent.

Vivendi rose 2.8 percent to 15.60 euros, its biggest gain since March 20. Qatar Telecom, which recently changed its name to Ooredoo, is competing with Emirates Telecommunications Corp. to buy Vivendi's Maroc Telecom stake and both made binding offers in April. Vivendi wants to complete the sale by October, people familiar with the matter said April 29.

Fiat, Italy's largest carmaker, climbed 4.4 percent to 5.66 euros, its highest price since August 2011. The Italian government will ask Chief Executive officer Sergio Marchionne what it "can do to let the carmaker keep its plants in Italy," Industry Minister Flavio Zanonato said in a television interview with Sky Tg24. "We should find a way to match Fiat's interest with the country's," he said.

Club Mediterranee soared 22 percent to 16.95 euros, its biggest gain since at least October 1989. The French all-inclusive tour operator said it received a takeover bid from management and its two largest shareholders, Axa Private Equity and Fosun International Ltd. (656), that values the company at 540 million euros ($699 million).

SAP AG added 2.1 percent to 59.89 euros. The world's largest maker of business-management software has ended discussions to acquire Jive Software Inc., which has a market value of more than $1 billion, people familiar with the matter said. SAP quit talks with Jive, which makes social-networking applications for businesses, after a thorough review of the company, said the people, who asked not to be named because the matter is private.

Commerzbank AG advanced 4.5 percent to 8.02 euros. Shares in Germany's second-biggest lender have still fallen 25 percent this year. Equinet Bank AG upgraded its rating on the stock to buy from sell.