The European markets are trading mixed on Monday, as investors weighed corporate report cards, amid lingering geo-political tensions.
On a day of light economic news, Italy's business confidence unexpectedly fell in July, as new order expectations declined, results of a survey conducted by the statistical office Istat showed.
U.K. house prices increased at a slower rate in June, data from the Land Registry showed. House prices rose 6.4 percent year-over-year in June following the 6.7 percent increase in May.
The Euro Stoxx 50 index of eurozone bluechip stocks is adding 0.21 percent, while the Stoxx Europe 50 index, which includes some major U.K. companies, is gaining 0.13 percent.
The French CAC 40 and the UK's FTSE 100 are modestly higher, while the German DAX is down 0.2 percent and Switzerland's SMI is falling 0.5 percent.
In Frankfurt, Merck and Bayer are notably higher. Linde and ThyssenKrupp are making moderate gains.
Daimler, BMW and Volkswagen are declining between 2.4 percent and 1.2 percent. Volkswagen's Audi announced price cut for spare parts in China, effective August 1.
Wincor Nixdorf cut its revenue forecast for the year. The stock is declining 8 percent.
In Paris, Danone is gaining 1.2 percent amid reports that it is in talks to sell its medical nutrition unit to U.S. pharmaceutical and medication delivery company Hospira, Inc. in a cash and stock deal that could value the unit at nearly $5 billion.
Publicis Groupe is losing close to 2 percent.
GDF Suez and Veolia Environment are gaining moderately.
In London, Reckitt Benckiser is gaining 2.7 percent. The consumer goods giant reported higher first-half profit, adding that it would spin off its pharmaceutical unit Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals.
Ryanair is gaining more than 4 percent. The company posted increased profit and lifted its outlook.
Trinity Mirror is surging 12 percent. The publisher of Daily Mirror and People reported Monday higher profit in its first half, above the company's expectations, amid improving revenue trends and growth in digital users.
Aberdeen Asset Management, which reported lower assets under management, is falling 3 percent.
Royal Bank of Scotland and Glencore are losing 2.7 percent and 2 percent, respectively.
Mothercare is declining close to 7 percent. US- based maternity apparel retailer Destination Maternity Corp. withdrew its takeover offer for the UK-based mother and baby apparel retailer.
Dutch package delivery company TNT Express reported a narrower loss for the second quarter, but a decline in revenues. The stock is down over 5 percent in Amsterdam.
Arcadis, which reported revenue decline for the second quarter, is declining 4 percent in Amsterdam.
The Asian stocks ended mixed, as weak cues from the U.S. and European markets offset growing investor confidence in China's economy.
In the U.S., futures point to a cautious open on Wall Street. In the previous session, stocks finished lower on Friday as disappointing earnings from Amazon and Visa's disappointing outlook added to ongoing worries over geopolitical unrest in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Crude for September delivery is falling $0.62 to $101.48 per barrel while August gold is gaining $0.7 to $1304.0 a troy ounce.
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