Europe Stocks Mostly Higher; Spain Under Pressure

European stock markets opened mostly higher on Monday, with bank and energy stocks driving the gains. The Stoxx Europe 600 index (XX:SXXP) -0.04%rose 0.3% to 266.53, with shares of BNP Paribas SA (FR:BNP) -0.95% up 1.1%.

The German DAX 30 index (DX:DAX) -0.23% rose 0.3% to 7,019, with Deutsche Bank (AGDE:DBK) -0.30% up 1.3% and Daimler (AGDE:DAI) +0.39% up nearly 1%.

The French CAC 40 index (FR:PX1) -0.33% rose 0.4% to 3,488.89, with Societe General SA (FR:GLE) -1.02% and BNP Paribas SA (FR:BNP) -0.95% up 1.3%.

The FTSE 100 index (UK:UKX) +0.11% rose 0.4% to 5,878.10, with Aberdeen Asset Management PLC (UK:AND) +2.48% up 1.7% after reporting a rise in assets under management. Barclays PLC (UK:BARC) +0.53% BCS +4.35% rose 1.5%. EasyJet PLC (UK:EZJ) +7.46% jumped 7% after lifting guidance.

Spain’s IBEX 35 index (XX:IBEX) -0.86% bucked the positive trend, off 0.4% to 8,244.70 after the government failed to secure a majority in a regional election on Sunday. Spain is also under pressure over general economic concerns, with a labor strike and a budget ahead this week.