By Mucahithan Avcioglu
ISTANBUL (AA) - European stock markets ended the first trading day of the week with gains as investors seemed to begin to recover from the shock of the start of the Israel-Iran conflict on Friday.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 rose 0.36%, or 1.97 points, to close at 546.91.
Germany's DAX 40 index was up 0.78% to end at 23,699.12 points, and the UK's FTSE 100 index climbed 0.28% to 8,875.22.
France's CAC 40 rose 0.75% to close at 7,742.24, while Italy's FTSE MIB 30 index gained 1.24% to 39,929.18 points.
Regional tensions in the Middle East have escalated since Friday, when Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on multiple sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.
The conflict wreaked havoc on global markets, with Brent crude oil rising around 11% and gold pushing the $3,450 level.
While the conflict between Iran and Israel continued, the fact that Iran did not close the Strait of Hormuz, contrary to expectations, and oil prices partially retreated, supported the markets.
On the other hand, German Central Bank (Bundesbank) Governor Joachim Nagel warned about the negative economic consequences of the war between Israel and Iran, especially oil prices.
Israeli authorities said that at least 24 people have been killed and hundreds injured in Iranian missile attacks since Friday.
Iran, for its part, said at least 224 people have been killed and over 1,000 others wounded in the Israeli assault.