Global Markets Open Higher as European Factory Activity Improves

European stocks opened higher on Monday after data showed eurozone manufacturing growth in October and U.K. factory activity expanding at its fastest pace in more than two years.

Asia-Pacific markets were mixed. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.42%, the Shanghai Composite gained 1.08% and the Shenzhen Component climbed 2.38%, while Japan's Nikkei 225 slipped 0.33% and the Topix fell 0.88%.

The stronger manufacturing readings in Europe offered a counterweight to concerns about slowing growth, though investors remain focused on central bank policy and geopolitical developments.