Associated British Foods rises on strong Primark outlook
Germany39;s Commerzbank surges to the top of DAX on comeback
Dechra sinks to the bottom of STOXX on FY profit warning
Defensive sectors track smallest gains

Feb 27 Reuters Europe39;s STOXX 600 rose on Monday, supported by gains across all major sectors, rebounding from its worst weekly performance this year on worries of higherforlonger U.S. and eurozone interest rates.

The bluechip index added 0.9. It fell 1.4 last week after hotterthanexpected U.S. inflation data fuelled bets that the Federal Reserve would continue to raise rates.

All major euro area sector indexes rose in the first hour of trading, with 1.21.6 gains in the riskier parts of the market, including oil gas, technology and autos auto parts.

Miners, among the biggest losers last week, bounced 0.8. Defensive sectors such as healthcare and telecoms posted the smallest gains.

European retailers rose 1.1, led by a 3.1 increase in shares of Hennes Mauritz. Associated British Foods climbed 1.2 as the Primark owner raised its fullyear financial outlook following a strong firsthalf performance.

Retail stocks have had a tremendous run after they took a hammering last year and, at the moment, it seems as if consumer spending is probably proving more resilient than markets feared, said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.

Mould highlighted that consumer spending has been buttressed by gas prices coming down and help from governmentsupport…