Lukewarm performance for European stocks

European stocks were steady on Monday as lower oil prices led to a decline in energy stocks, ahead of comments by European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde on monetary policy before a European Parliament committee.

The European Stoxx 600 index remained stable at 0820 GMT, while the British Financial Times 100 index fell the most among its European counterparts.

Energy stocks fell 0.8 percent after Brent crude prices fell, heading towards $80 a barrel, with investors awaiting the OPEC+ meeting scheduled for later this week to reach an agreement to reduce supplies until 2024.

All eyes will be on Lagarde’s comments, as she will speak at 1400 GMT before the European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee and provide an assessment of the region’s monetary policy.

Preliminary Eurozone inflation estimates and November manufacturing data will be key points for investors to watch this week.

The shares of airport operator ADB recorded the lowest level in about a month, falling 5.9 percent, sliding to the bottom of the STOXX index.

Rightmove, the real estate website, achieved the largest gains, as its stock rose 5.5 percent after it raised expectations for average annual revenues per advertiser.