European stocks are expected to open higher Monday in what in likely to be a quiet trading session ahead of the U.S. Fourth of July holiday.
Britain's FTSE 100 is set to add about 25 points at the start of trading, according to financial bookmakers IG, with stronger gains anticipated for the DAX performance index in Germany and the CAC-40 in Paris.
Activity will likely be muted into the second half of the session, however, as was the case in overnight trading in Asia, where the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index was little-changed from its near two-year high while the Nikkei 225 edged higher, thanks in part to a weaker yen.
Currency market are likely to be active in the Monday session, however, particularly the European single currency, which continues to test 52-weeks highs against the dollar amid speculation that the European Central Bank has signalled the slow exit from its extraordinary monetary policy.
The euro was marked at 1.1411 at the start of trading Monday, but comments over the weekend from Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann, who indicated that expansionary policy is appropriate at the present time, could add downward pressure to the currency pair throughout the session.
Support could come, however, from IHS Markit's final reading of economic activity in the region's manufacturing sector, which is set to be published at 09:00 London time, particularly if the initial estimate of 57.0 is revised higher from the initial estimate.
Similar readings are expected later today for both the U.K. (at 09:30 London time) and the United States (15:00 London time).
The pound was marked modestly lower against the dollar at 1.2995, but remains elevated near multi-week highs after last week's speech from Bank of England Governor Mark Carney that suggested the Bank's tolerance for faster inflation needed to be set against the broader economic recovery.
Early indications from U.S. equity futures suggest a solid start to the week, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average set to add around 45.5 points, or 0.21%, at the opening bell. A similar percentage gain is anticipated for the broader S&P 500 while the tech-focused Nasdaq could gain around 19 points, or 0.33%, when trading kicks off.
