European markets opened higher Monday as investors shrugged off concerns about China's slowing economy that battered Asian stocks earlier in the day, AP reported. Most European markets gained in early trading. Germany's DAX was up 1 percent to 11,810.19 and France's CAC 40 added 0.3 percent to 5,159.70. Britain's FTSE 100 gained 0.6 percent to 7,036.12. Futures augured a strong start to the week for Wall Street. Dow futures were up 0.6 percent at 17,867. S&P 500 futures were 0.5 percent higher at 2,086.60. China's Shanghai Composite closed 1.6 percent lower at 4,217.08 after rising as much as about 1 percent in early trading. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.1 percent to 19,634.49 while South Korea's Kospi added 0.2 percent to 2,146.71. Markets in Australia and Southeast Asia were lower. Benchmark U.S. crude added 48 cents to $56.22 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 97 cents to close at $55.74 a barrel in New York on Friday. Brent crude rose 15 cents to $63.60 a barrel in London The euro weakened to $1.0755 from $1.0805 on Friday. The dollar fell to 118.87 yen from 118.94 yen.
