Stock indices traded higher after the release of the mostly positive final manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) data for the Eurozone. Markit Economics released its final manufacturing PMI for the Eurozone on Monday. Eurozone's final manufacturing PMI climbed to 51.7 in April from 51.6 in March, up from the preliminary reading of 51.5.

The rise was driven by a faster growth in employment and as deflationary pressures moderated.

"The survey is signalling an anaemic annual rate of growth of manufacturing production of just less than 1%, which is half the pace seen in the months leading up to the recent slowdown," Chris Williamson, Chief Economist at Markit said.

"The survey data therefore so far show no signs of ECB stimulus or the weaker euro helping to revive the manufacturing sector, at least for the euro area as a whole," he added.

Germany's final Markit/BME manufacturing PMI rose to 51.8 in April from 50.7 in March, down from the preliminary reading of 51.9. The index was mainly driven by rises in new business and employment.

France's final manufacturing PMI decreased to 48.0 in April from 49.6 in March, down the preliminary reading of 48.3. The index was driven by drops in new business, output and output prices. Output prices slid a fastest pace since July 2009.

European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi said on Monday that there was no alternative to the central bank's quantitative easing.

"There is simply no alternative to this today," he said.

Draghi noted that savers would benefit from the central bank's monetary policy in the medium term.

"It might seem at first glance that this policy is tantamount to penalising savers in favour of borrowers. But in the medium-term, expansionary policy is actually very much to the benefit of savers," the ECB president said.

Markets in the U.K. are closed for a public holiday.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 closed

DAX 10,123.27 +84.30 +0.84 %

CAC 40 4,442.75 +13.79 +0.31 %