Markets gain on hopes for Friday's crucial EU summit

European stock markets opened higher this morning ahead of a crucial eurozone meeting on Friday which could decide the future of the single currency.

The German Dax gained 0.56% to 6,114 and France's Cac 40 rose 1.04% to 3,198. The Euro Stoxx 50 was up just over 1% at 2,367. Meanwhile London's FTSE 100 was fairly flat, up 0.2% to 5,563. Investors are pinning hopes on this week's EU summit, while French president Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are meeting today to try to hammer out a solution to the debt crisis. The leaders have opposing views on the future of the eurozone - Merkel favours more strict EU central control while France wants to preserve national sovereignty. Meanwhile Ireland and Italy have b...