Miners help European stocks keep winning run alive

PARIS (Reuters) - European stocks climbed on Tuesday, rising for the sixth straight session, as rallying metal prices and hopes of big infrastructure spending boosted mining and steel shares such as ArcelorMittal (MTP.PA).

Volkswagen (VOWG.DE) soared 12 percent after Porsche (PSHG_p.DE) raised its stake in the German carmaker.

The FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top European shares unofficially ended 1.6 percent higher at 887.33 points, its highest closing level since Nov 10.

Shares trimmed their gains in late trading after gloomy U.S. manufacturing and housing data, but managed to remain in positive territory. The FTSEurofirst 300 has gained 10 percent over the past six sessions, its longest winning streak since late October.

"Bad news have already been priced in by the market, while good news haven't. All the stimulus plans and aggressive interest rate cuts are just starting to have an impact on equities," said Marc Touati, chief economist at Global Equities, in Paris.

ArcelorMittal surged 14 percent, Rio Tinto (RIO.L) soared 11 percent, Xstrata (XTA.L) rose 13 percent and Vallourec VLPP.PA added 10 percent.

(Reporting by Blaise Robinson)