World Markets Extend Gains at Start of the Week

European stock markets rose on Monday as traders reacted to a strong victory for President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party in French parliamentary elections, as Britain begins formal Brexit talks.

At around 1000 GMT, London's benchmark FTSE 100 index was up around half a percent compared with the close on Friday.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index climbed 0.7 percent and the Paris CAC 40 gained 0.9 percent.

Markets rose "as traders welcome another Macron victory in France," said Accendo Markets analyst Mike van Dulken.

"There is also optimism about a positive start to UK-EU Brexit negotiations which kick off today in Brussels."

Macron's year-old Republique en Marche party won one of France's biggest post-war majorities, strengthening his hand in implementing his program of business-friendly reforms.

The euro edged up after the party and its allies won 351 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly, giving the president a strong mandate to enact business-friendly reforms.

However the currency's gains were tempered by the fact that the party did not secure the forecast landslide.

Britain's Brexit minister David Davis was meanwhile on Monday to meet Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, to kick off hugely complex withdrawal negotiations that are expected to conclude within two years.

Earlier, Asian stock markets built on last week's gains following another record close on Wall Street ahead of the weekend.

The Dow in New York closed at a fresh all-time high Friday thanks to a bounce in energy stocks, while a weaker yen also helped Tokyo to rally.

The dollar climbed above 111 yen Monday after Japan posted a surprise trade deficit for May. The Nikkei ended 0.6-percent higher, although troubled airbag maker Takata plunged 16.5 percent on reports it plans to file for bankruptcy and sell its assets to a U.S. firm. 

Oil prices were up slightly amid lingering glut concerns as U.S. companies' rising production offsets big output cuts agreed by OPEC and Russia.

The Baker Hughes rig count showed another rise last week, Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader, pointed out in a client note.

"That's 22 weeks in a row that oil rigs have been added, a record run," he said, although he pointed out that the rate of new additions was easing.

"Even just a casual observance of the energy news would show that the conversation is turning a little from OPEC and its production cut deal efficacy to U.S. production and its sustainability -– or growth -– at these levels," he added.

 - Key figures around 1000 GMT -

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.5 percent at 7,497.39 points

Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.9 percent at 5,308.78

Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 0.7 percent at 12,845.23

EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.4 percent at 3,538.86

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.6 percent at 20,067.75 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 1.2 percent at 25,924.55 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.7 percent at 3,144.37 (close)

New York - Dow: UP 0.1 percent at 21,384.28 (close)

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1196 from $1.1194 at 2100 GMT on Friday

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2806 from $1.2777

Dollar/yen: UP at 111.03 yen from 110.89 yen

Oil - Brent North Sea: UP 11 cents at $47.48 per barrel

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: UP 11 cents at $44.85