(Reuters) - European stocks edged higher on Monday, with deal talks related to British consumer companies boosting the bluechip FTSE 100, while shares in Credit Suisse (SIX:CSGN) slipped after the Swiss bank's chairman quit following an internal probe into his personal conduct.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.2% by 0806 GMT, with Asian markets choppy after China's central bank cut some key lending rates after mixed economic data, while a U.S. holiday made for thin trading. [MKTS/GLOB]
China-exposed miners and healthcare stocks were the top sectoral gainers in Europe, up about 0.8% each.
Lifting UK's FTSE 100, GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) jumped 5.2% after it confirmed over the weekend that it had rejected Unilever (NYSE:UL)'s 50-billion-pound offer for its consumer healthcare business.
Unilever slid 5.2% after it signalled on Monday it would pursue the deal, calling it a "strong strategic fit".
Credit Suisse slipped 1.1% after Chairman Antonio Horta-Osorio quit following an internal probe into his personal conduct, including breaches of COVID-19 rules.