European stocks ended slightly higher Friday, as big gains for Unilever PLC and Essentra PLC helped offset drops by Dutch storage company Royal Vopak NV and German insurer Allianz SE. Analysts have been sounding upbeat about European equities after the Stoxx 600 logged its highest close since December 2015 on Wednesday.

All three major stock indexes closed at records on Friday with the Dow Jones Industrial Average eking out gains to extend its record-setting streak to a seventh session. With the exception of the Nasdaq Composite, the stock market had languished in negative territory most of the day but recouped losses toward the closing bell.

Equity markets in Japan and Australia started the week slightly lower, while yields on sovereign bonds fell in Asia trading Monday. In Hong Kong and China, however, markets started the day trading higher. Analysts don't expect market participants in the region to have a lot of trading cues today.