London: European stocks closed higher at the close of trading Monday, driven by gains in technology and banking stocks. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index ended the session up 0.4 percent. Most regional indices rose, with Germany's DAX rising 1.2 percent and France's CAC 40 gaining 0.4 percent. Spain's IBEX index rose 0.7 percent.

According to Qatar News Agency, the UK's FTSE 100 fell, with Shell shares tumbling 2.9 percent after the energy major said it expected its quarterly profit to be hit by weak trading in its gas division and losses in its chemicals and products operations. Technology stocks were among the biggest gainers, with Germany's SAP and Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML rising around 2 percent each. A gauge of eurozone banks rose 1.6 percent, with France's Societe Generale jumping 2.8 percent.