European stocks start week on dour note on French civil unrest

European equities started the week on a dour note on Monday, dragged lower by escalating political and social instability in France alongside investor caution ahead of a critical week for global corporate earnings. The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 Index slipped 0.33%, as investors priced in elevated sovereign risk across the eurozone’s second-largest economy. France’s CAC 40 Index fell 0.73%.