European markets head for higher open as investors follow Ukraine developments

European markets head for higher open as investors follow Ukraine developments

LONDON — European stocks are expected to open higher on Monday as investors continue monitoring developments in the war between Ukraine and Russia. The U.K.'s index is seen opening 20 points higher at 7,503, Germany's 55 points higher at 14,370, France's  up 25 points at 6,584 and Italy's 162 points higher at 24,058, according to data from IG. Global markets are watching events in Ukraine closely more than a month after Russia began its invasion of the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy  his country is prepared to discuss adopting a neutral status as part of a peace deal with Russia. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has sought to clarify President Joe Biden's comments that Russian President Vladimir Putin were slightly lower Sunday evening as investors look ahead to a series of key economic reports and continue to keep a close eye on the Federal Reserve's planned interest rate hikes. Key data releases in the U.S. this week include the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, and ADP will also release its private payrolls data ahead of the closely watched monthly jobs report, on Friday. In Asia overnight, shares in Chinese tech firms mostly rose in on