LONDON (AP) -- European stock markets rose modestly Tuesday despite a mixed performance in Asia as investor optimism remained relatively buoyant ahead of more key U.S. corporate earnings and an assessment of the U.S. economy from Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke.

In Europe, the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was up 23.52 points, or 0.5 percent, at 4,467.14 while Germany's DAX rose 28.75 points, or 0.6 percent, to 5,058.90. The CAC-40 in France was 15.26 points, or 0.5 percent, higher at 3,286.20. Earlier in Asia, Tokyo's market outperformed the region to hit a two-week high after being closed for a holiday Monday, as investors seemed to shrug off the unfolding shake-up in Japanese national politics -- Japan's Cabinet agreed to dissolve the powerful lower house of parliament, setting the stage for national elections that could topple the country's ruling party.