(Bloomberg) -- European equities advanced at the open as miners and oil stocks led the gains on the easing of China’s monetary policy and as Brent rose.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 0.3 percent. Rio Tinto Plc and Glencore Plc both added 1.8 percent. Royal Dutch Shell Plc increased 0.6 percent and Total SA added 0.5 percent.

European stocks lost 13 percent in 2018, the worst performance since the 2008 financial crisis, as a mix of political and economic growth concerns pushed investors to exit. The People’s Bank of China cut the required reserves for banks, softening its policy amid the trade tensions with the U.S., while oil is headed for its longest rally in more than 17 months as the U.S. Federal Reserve sought to soothe investor concerns.

“With record net outflows reflecting investor concerns about the region’s political risks and, more broadly, Europe’s future, the hurdle for positive surprises and equity upside is low,” Citigroup Inc. strategists, including Jonathan Stubbs, said in a note.

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