European stocks edged higher on Monday, after posting gains for the second consecutive week, as investors watched potential tariff developments and looked ahead to a busy week of corporate earnings and economic data.
The European Stoxx 600 index rose 0,5% at 07:09 (GMT), while other regional indices also recorded gains, according to Reuters.
Signs of easing trade tensions between the United States and China last week supported investor sentiment, although conflicting statements regarding progress in trade talks between the world's two largest economies continue to keep markets cautious.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that he had not discussed the tariff issue with Chinese officials and that he did not know whether the president Donald Trump had discussed this subject with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
For its part, China has repeatedly denied Trump's claims that trade talks are continuing, while announcing Friday that it would exempt some U.S. products from its hefty 125% tariffs, according to several companies, a clear sign of Beijing's concerns about the fallout from the trade war.
At the individual stock level, shares in British food delivery service Deliveroo jumped 16,3% after announcing on Friday that it had received an acquisition offer from DoorDash on April 5.
Airbus shares also rose 1,6 percent after reaching an agreement to acquire certain assets of Spirit AeroSystems, according to a joint statement from the two companies.
In the banking sector, Italian bank Mediobanca announced a €6,3 billion ($7,15 billion) acquisition offer to buy wealth management bank Banca Generali.
Investors are also awaiting the release of inflation reports from the eurozone and the United States this week, data that could influence the future direction of monetary policy.
