European markets higher as new trading week kicks off; Gucci-owner Kering rises over 4%

European markets opened higher on Monday as the new trading week kicked off, with investors weighing geopolitical turmoil.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up by around 0.3% at 8:34 a.m. London time, with most major regional bourses and sectors trading in positive territory.

Traders will be assessing geopolitical upheaval in the Middle East after the ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over the weekend. Western leaders have greeted the overthrow of the Assad dynasty by rebel forces with caution, fearing a power vacuum and more instability in the region.  

Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific markets were mixed overnight. South Korea’s Kospi stock index fell over 2% after President Yoon Suk Yeol survived an impeachment vote over the weekend.

U.S. stock futures were little changed Sunday night after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite posted their third straight winning week, ahead of key inflation data due Wednesday.

The November consumer price index, due out Wednesday, is expected to show a slight uptick in pricing pressures. Economists polled by Dow Jones expect a 0.3% and 2.7% monthly and yearly increase, respectively. That would be up from 0.2% and 2.6%, respectively, from the prior month.

— CNBC’s Sarah Min contributed to this market summary