Third Quarter Kicks Off With Solid Gains

European stocks open higher Monday in what in likely to be a quiet trading session ahead of the U.S. Fourth of July holiday.

Britain's FTSE 100 gains at the start of trading, according to financial bookmakers IG, with stronger gains anticipated for the DAX performance index in Germany and the CAC-40 in Paris.

Activity will likely be muted into the second half of the session, however, as was the case in overnight trading in Asia, where the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index was little-changed from its near two-year high while the Nikkei 225 edged higher, thanks in part to a weaker yen.

Currency market are likely to be active in the Monday session, however, particularly the European single currency, which continues to test 52-weeks highs against the dollar amid speculation that the European Central Bank has signalled the slow exit from its extraordinary monetary policy.