Dipo Olowookere
By Investors Hub
European stocks are turning in a mixed performance on Monday, with more talk of North Korean willingness to discuss denuclearization and hopes for strong earnings helping underpin investor sentiment.
While trade worries persist, traders seemed to have shrugged off the latest U.S. sanctions on Russia and President Donald Trump’s warning Sunday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his two biggest allies could pay a “big price” for a suspected chemical-weapons attack on a rebel-held town.
The U.K.?s FTSE 100 Index is down by 0.2 percent, while the French CAC 40 Index is just above the unchanged line and the German DAX Index is up by 0.2 percent.
Swiss pharmaceutical firm Novartis has moved to the upside after the company announced an agreement to acquire U.S.-based clinical stage gene therapy company AveXis, Inc. for a total of $8.7 billion in cash.
Portuguese energy and utility group EDP has also rallied on buzz that French rival Engie was examining a possible bid for the company.
Rolls-Royce shares has jumped after the engine maker is selling its German-based diesel parts maker L’Orange to U.S.-based engineering company Woodward Inc for 700 million euros.
Meanwhile, pump maker Sulzer and technology group Oerlikon have come under pressure after their majority holder Viktor Vekselberg was included in the U.S.’ latest round of sanctions against Russia.
