Debenhams rebounds from profit warning hit Europe's main equities markets are making fresh gains at the start of the new year's first full trading day in the region. Retailers are prominent on the FTSE Eurofirst leaderboard, with investors reacting to the positive elements from a set of mixed signals from the retail sector. News of strong festive sales from the unlisted department store chain John Lewis looks to be winning out over worse news from the UK department store chain Debenhams, which has parted company with its chief financial officer after its second profit warning in under a year. Shares in Debenhams, which lost almost 13 per cent in the immediate aftermath of the New Year's Eve warning, are recovering - up 1.2 per cent at 74p. Kingfisher, the UK home improvement chain also active in France, is up 1 per cent at 388.7p, one of the best risers on Europe's international index. J Sainsbury is also making notable gains, up 0.9 per cent at 368.4p. Tesco, the biggest London-listed retailer, is also up 0.9 per cent at 338p. Overall, the FTSE Eurofirst 300 is up 0.1 per cent at 1,317.82. Fiat is its best single gainer, up 14.2 per cent, as investors cheer its $3.65bn deal to acquire the 41.5 per cent of Chrysler it does not already own. The Xetra Dax 30 is up 0.3 per cent at 9,576.0 in Frankfurt with industrial stocks leading the way. Siemens is up 1.3 per cent at €100.6, with BASF close behind - up 1.1 per cent at €78.4. In Paris, the CAC 40 is up 0.1 per cent at 4,298.15. London's FTSE 100 is underperforming, down 0.4 per cent at 6,723.20, with its miners under pressure after lacklustre economic data from China, the sector's main metals market. Anglo American is the biggest single faller in the sector, down 1.6 per cent at £12.99.