Investing.com - European stocks opened mostly higher on Monday, as investors shrugged off comments by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen pointing to the possibility for a rate hike this summer.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 added 0.21%, France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.10%, while Germany’s DAX 30 rose 0.31%.
Fed Chair Yellen said Friday it would be appropriate for the central bank to raise rates “gradually and cautiously” in the coming months if the economy and the labor market continue to pick up as expected.
Meanwhile, oil prices moved lower on Monday amid expectations for an increase in Canadian oil sands production this week.
Energy-related stocks were broadly lower, with shares in French oil and gas major Total SA (PA:TOTF) down 0.69% and Italy’s ENI (MI:ENI) fell 0.29%, while Norwegian rival Statoil (OL:STL) eased 0.07%.
Financial stocks were steady to higher, as French lenders BNP Paribas (PA:BNPP) and Societe Generale (PA:SOGN) dipped 0.01% and 0.05%, while Germany’s Deutsche Bank (DE:DBKGn) and Commerzbank (DE:CBKG) gained 0.76% and 0.58%.
Among peripheral lenders, Italy’s Unicredit (MI:CRDI) and Intesa Sanpaolo (MI:ISP) climbed 0.54% and 0.68% respectively, while Spanish banks Banco Santander (MC:SAN) and BBVA (MC:BBVA) rose 0.27% and 0.12%.
Elsewhere, Volkswagen (DE:VOWG_p) AG ST O.N. (DE:VOWG) rallied 1.57% as the carmaker was set to report first-quarter earnings on Tuesday. It was also expected to reveal more about the cost of its emissions scandal.
In London, FTSE 100 edged up 0.08%, boosted by Royal Mail (LON:RMG), whose shares surged 2.01% after postal operator announced the acquisition of a number of digital companies in a move to spur growth.
Financial stocks were also mostly higher, as HSBC Holdings (LON:HSBA) advanced 0.56% and Barclays (LON:BARC) climbed 0.76%, while the Royal Bank of Scotland (LON:RBS) jumped 1.05%. Lloyds Banking (LON:LLOY) declined 0.49%.
Meanwhile, mining stocks were broadly lower on the commodity-heavy index. Shares in Glencore PLC (LON:GLEN) tumbled 1.21% and Randgold Resources Ltd (LON:RRS) lost 2.05%, while Antofagasta (LON:ANTO) and Anglo American (LON:AAL) plummeted 2.52% and 2.73% respectively.
In the U.S., equity markets were to remain closed for Memorial Day.