European stock markets end Monday mostly higher

By Mucahithan Avcioglu

ISTANBUL (AA) - European stocks closed the first trading day of the week with gains, except for the UK.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index increased 0.44%, or 2.37 points, to close Monday at 543.5.

Germany's DAX 40 index was up 1.2% to end at 24,073.67 and France's CAC 40 rose 0.35% to 7,723.47.

Italy's FTSE MIB index added 0.74% to close at 39,914.25 points.

On the other hand, Britain's FTSE 100 index bucked the trend, falling 0.19% to 8,806.53 points.

Meanwhile, investors are still waiting for announcements of trade deals from the US as July 9 tariff deadline is looming.

Earlier in the day, an EU spokesperson said that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen held a "good exchange" with US President Donald Trump on Sunday, as the EU accelerates its efforts to strike a transatlantic trade deal before July 9.

"President von der Leyen had a call with President Trump yesterday, and that they had good exchange, and that indeed the president continues to be in contact with EU leaders," Stefan de Keersmaecker, an EU spokesperson, told reporters at a press briefing.

Shares of the UK-based energy company Shell ended the day down 2.3% after the company warned that its profits would fall in the second quarter due to weakness in the gas trade and chemical business.

Meanwhile, sales of German automaker Mercedes-Benz Group fell 9% in the second quarter of the year from the same period last year due to the impact of global tariff policies.

On the macroeconomic data side, industrial production in Germany increased 1.2% on a monthly basis and 1% annually in May, despite market forecasts of declines.