Europe's main stock markets rose in early trading on Tuesday, with investor optimism fueled by a further easing of measures against COVID-19 in China.

In Paris, the CAC 40 gained 1.11% to 6,577.01 points at around 08:20 GMT, while in Frankfurt, the Dax advanced by 0.8%.

The EuroStoxx 50 index is up 0.78%, the FTSEurofirst 300 0.43% and the Stoxx 600 0.57%.

The session is expected to be quieter than usual due to the absence of some investors for the end-of-year vacations.

China's main markets posted their biggest daily gain in three weeks after the National Health Commission announced on Monday that it would end the quarantine imposed on travelers entering China.

Beijing will also downgrade the severity of COVID-19, as the virus responsible for the disease has become less virulent.

"This marks another important step in China's reopening to the rest of the world, despite the recent spike in local infections," wrote JPMorgan analysts in a note.

This news benefited luxury goods stocks, which are particularly exposed to the Chinese market: Kering , Hermès and LVMH gained between 1.46% and 2.03%, among the biggest gains on the CAC 40.

The mining and energy sectors gained 1.22% and 1.5% respectively, as commodity prices surged on hopes of a recovery in demand in China. (Laetitia Volga, edited by Blandine Hénault)