Euro zone stocks end up; Greece sink over 16%

Euro zone stocks end up; Greece sink over 16%

European equities closed largely higher on Monday, despite the Greek stock exchange finishing its first day back after a five-week absence more than 16 percent lower.

The pan-European STOXX 600 (^STOXX) ended the first trading day of August up 0.7 percent, after a slew of manufacturing PMI data for Europe was released.

The final Eurozone Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) came out at 52.4 in July, compared to June's Final PMI figure of 52.5.

Germany's DAX (^GDAXI) index finished up 1.2 percent, while the French CAC (Euronext Paris: .FCHI) closed 0.8 percent higher. The U.K.'s FTSE (FTSE International: .FTSE) wobbled throughout trade, ending in the red, down 0.1 percent.

U.S. stocks were range-bound on Monday, as investors eyed economic data amid earnings and overseas news.

All eyes were on Greece, as the Athens stock exchange opened its doors for the first time in five weeks. The stock exchange started trade down 23 percent, but pared some losses to close 16.2 percent lower.

Alpha Bank, Attica Bank and Eurobank Ergasius (Athens Stock Exchange: EUROB-GR), Bank of Piraeus (Athens Stock Exchange: TPEIR-GR) and the National Bank of Greece (Athens Stock Exchange: ETE-GR)-all hit by weeks of capital controls-were major casualties ending down around 30 percent.

Top-performing stocks on Monday included Heineken (Euronext Amsterdam: HEIA-NL), whose shares closed up around 5.6 percent after it posted strong emerging market growth in its half-year results.

Heineken's CEO, Jean-François van Boxmeer, told CNBC Monday , that he expected to see continued sales growth in emerging markets, despite the occasional "hiccup".

Product-testing firm, Intertek Group (London Stock Exchange: ITRK-GB), soared to the top of the Stoxx 600, finishing trade 11.2 percent higher, after its first-half underlying revenue growth rose and the company maintained its full-year guidance.

Shares in Rolls Royce (London Stock Exchange: RR.-GB) was also closed near the top, up almost 6 percent, on speculation that it turnaround plans could be sped up under pressure from an activist investor.



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