Positive German Ifo helps boost stocks.

Germany's Ifo index of business confidence has risen to its highest level in seven months, increasing to 104.2 in January from 102.4 in December and topping forecasts for 103. The expectations and current conditions indexes have also increased as the country's economic outlook improves amid signs that the eurozone debt crisis is fading, for the moment. The buoyant sentiment helped boost European shares and send the DAX to a five-year high