European stocks firm at open

LONDON: European stock markets nudged higher at the start of trading on Monday, with London's benchmark FTSE 100 index up 0.06 percent at 6,964.55 points.

Elsewhere, the CAC 40 in Paris also gained 0.06 percent to 4,996.96 points and Frankfurt's DAX 30 won 0.16 percent to 11,464.80 compared with Friday's close.

Most of Asia's key markets were lower Monday following a strong end to last week and despite another record close on Wall Street, although Tokyo was supported by a weaker yen.