Market participants took the main British equity index marginally above the flat line on Monday despite the slight increase in the value of the pound against the euro. The FTSE 100 was held just one point in positive territory 7,524.45, as best performers GKN and Micro Focus gained 5.05% and 2.11%, respectively.
The DAX finished 0.09% up at 13,003.14 points in Frankfurt, after flirting with an all-time high of 13,094.76, registered on October 18. Linde was at the top of the chart with a surge of 2.29%, while Infineon fared second best, rising 1.2%. The CAC 40 closed 0.27% at 5,386.81, after during the session it topped the 5,400 level, which has been briefly held in May for the first time early 2008. STMicroelectronics led the way, jumping 4.33%.
The advance in main stock indexes in the Eurozone and the joint currency's decline indicate dovish sentiment ahead of this week's meeting of the European Central Bank. The euro was 0.17% down at $1.176 and 0.22% in the red, buying £0.89105 at 6:00 pm CET. The pound added just 0.08% to change hands for $1.32.