Shares in garden equipment maker Husqvarna rise 4.5% after bank and brokerage HQ publishes a research note that gives an upbeat assesment of the key spring purchasing season for outdoor products in the United States.

HQ says its survey of a selection of outdoor products managers at U.S. retailer Sears showed a majority believing the spring purchasing season, the main sales period for garden equipment, had begun as or better than expected.

HQ, which has a "buy" recommendation on the stock, has also been the single biggest net buyer of Husqvarna shares at the Stockholm bourse, whose all share index is up 0.6%. Husqvarna is due to release its first-quarter report on April 27.