European stock markets end Monday with gains

By Mucahithan Avcioglu

ISTANBUL (AA) - European stocks closed the first trading day of the week with gains.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index increased 0.23%, or 1.29 points, to close Monday at 551.43. The Stoxx 600 Aerospace and Defense index was up 2.1% after the UK secured its largest-ever warship export order with Norway on Sunday.

Germany's DAX 40 index was up 0.57% to end at 24,037.33 and Britain's FTSE 100 index rose 0.1% to 9,196.34.

France's CAC 40 inched up 0.05% to 7,707.9 and Italy's FTSE MIB index added 0.51% to close at 42,409.71 points.

Spain's IBEX 35 index also ticked up 0.02% to close at 14,939.4 points.

On Sunday, the UK announced its largest-ever warship export order, with Norway confirming it will purchase at least five British-built Type 26 frigates in a deal worth £10 billion (approximately $13.5 billion) to the UK economy.

The contract will also support around 4,000 jobs in the UK supply chain through the 2030s, including more than 2,000 at BAE Systems' shipyards on the River Clyde.

On the data side, the Eurozone manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) surpassed the growth threshold in August, reaching 50.7 points.

The unemployment rate in the eurozone fell to 6.2% in July, from 6.3% in June.

The euro/dollar exchange rate rose 0.15% to 1.17 as of 1650GMT.