European stocks were flat to slightly higher on Monday as investors braced for central bank commentary and the release of U.S. Federal Reserve minutes later in the week. Germany's factory orders rebounded at a stronger-than-expected pace in May, expanding 1.9 percent on a monthly basis versus a forecast of 1.1 percent, after a revised 3.2 percent decline in April. On a yearly basis, growth in factory orders accelerated to 6.2 percent from 2.1 percent in the previous month. The pan European Stoxx 600 edged up 0.1 percent to 653.45, while the German DAX gained 0.2 percent, France's CAC 40 added half a percent, and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was up 0.3 percent. Among individual stocks, EasyJet soared 11 percent after agreeing in principle to a takeover offer worth around £5.2 billion from U.S. investment firm Castlelake, while Thales rallied 2 percent on news it will buy the Gorge family's 35.51 percent stake in Exail Technologies.
EasyJet PLCagreed in principle to a £5.2bn takeover offer from Castlelake
Thales S.A.will buy the Gorge family's 35.51% stake in Exail Technologies
Exail Technologies S.A.