By Investors Hub
European stocks have moved notably higher on Monday, with some merger and acquisition activity, positive economic data from China and Japan as well as U.S. tax reform hopes helping underpin investor sentiment.
While the U.K.?s FTSE 100 Index has risen by 0.4 percent, the French CAC 40 Index and the German DAX Index are up by 1.3 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively.
Thales shares have soared in Paris on news the aerospace and defense group agreed to buy chipmaker Gemalto for 4.8 billion euros.
3i Infrastructure has also rallied in London after the company agreed to sell its stake in U.K. water supplies company Anglian Water Group.
Meanwhile, Unilever has edged lower after its announcement to sell spreads business to KKR for $8 billion.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Modupe Gbadeyanka