Investing.com – European stocks traded with mixed signs on Monday as investors digested company headlines and showed concern over a possible new call for a referendum in Scotland.
Nearing midday in Europe, the benchmark Euro Stoxx 50 inched up 0.09%, France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.06%, and Germany’s DAX 30 traded up 0.10%.
The London Stock Exchange Group (LON:LSE) and Deutsche Boerse (DE:DB1Gn) fell around 3% on Monday as the British operator said it was “highly unlikely” to be able to comply with antitrust conditions set by the European Commission in order to go ahead with a €29 billion ($30.7 billion) merger.
Shares of Intesa Sanpaolo (MI:ISP) jumped more than 5%, leading the Stoxx 600 higher, as the Italian bank announced that it will not bid for Generali (MI:GASI). The Italian insurer tumbled 4% on the news.
Sterling was under pressure Monday on reports of a possible push for a fresh Scottish referendum over its independence from Britain as the U.K. moves forward with plans to leave the European Union. The Times reported U.K. PM Theresa May's government is bracing for a new move for a vote on Scottish independence.
In economic data, the euro zone saw private sector loans rise at an annualized rate of 2.2%, beating expectations for a 2.1% gain. The 2.3% increase in lending to businesses was its best reading since mid-2009, while the 2.2% rise in lending to households was its biggest advance since May 2011.
Additionally, the M3 money supply eased to a 4.9% advance in January, ahead of forecasts for a 4.8% rise.
Furthermore, readings on optimism in the region generally improved as expected with the business and consumer survey for February rising to 108.0
Meanwhile, oil prices traded higher on Monday, rising back toward an eight-week high on increasing confidence that OPEC’s supply curbs will outweigh a gain in U.S. stockpiles.
Energy stocks were trading mixed, as French oil and gas major Total SA (PA:TOTF) fell 0.71%, Italy’s ENI (MI:ENI) was unchanged, while Norwegian rival Statoil (OL:STL) rose 0.61%.
Financial stocks were broadly higher, as French lenders BNP Paribas (PA:BNPP) gained 0.66% and Societe Generale (PA:SOGN) traded up 0.81%, while Germany’s Deutsche Bank (DE:DBKGn) rose 0.72% and Commerzbank (DE:CBKG) inched up 0.03%.
Among peripheral lenders, Italy’s Intesa Sanpaolo (MI:ISP) jumped 5.11% but Unicredit (MI:CRDI) slipped 0.08%, while Spanish banks BBVA (MC:BBVA) traded up 0.97% and Banco Santander (MC:SAN) advanced 0.46%.
In London, the commodity-heavy FTSE 100 gained 0.24%.
Shares in Glencore (LON:GLEN) slipped 0.05%, Anglo American (LON:AAL) gained 1.48%, while BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) traded up 1.15% and Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) rose 0.54%.
Energy stocks traded higher, as BP (LON:BP) traded up 1.14% and Royal Dutch Shell (LON:RDSa) gained 0.70%.
Financial stocks were mixed as shares of HSBC Holdings (LON:HSBA) rose 0.14% and the Royal Bank of Scotland (LON:RBS) lost 1.85%, while Barclays (LON:BARC) dropped 0.13% but Lloyds Banking (LON:LLOY) gained 0.64%.
In the U.S., futures pointed a lower open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures fell 0.12%, S&P 500 futures dropped 0.06%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures lost 0.12%.