European shares rose for the first time in six sessions on Tuesday, lifted by tentative gains in defensive stocks, a late rally in Asia and the extraordinary advance of Volkswagen, now a contender for the title of world’s largest company by market capitalization.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 closed up 2.2 per cent at 833.58, clawing back gains after a five day run of losses which had seen the index lose 12.1 per cent of its value and fall to its lowest in 5½ years. In Paris the CAC 40 index advanced 1.6 per cent to 3,114.92.