European stocks finished fractionally lower on Monday, with investors appearing to hold back from making major moves following last week's U.S. airstrikes against Syria in retaliation for a suspected chemical weapons attack that killed civilians.

U.S. stocks eked out gains Monday as strength in energy shares helped to offset selling pressure sparked by geopolitical concerns, but market sentiment remained cautious going into the first-quarter earnings season.

Rising crude oil prices drove gains in key commodities-focused equity markets in Asia, helping to offset the impact of geopolitical tensions. Brent-oil futures moved above $56 a barrel for the first time in a month, with prices in Asia adding to overnight gains. Oil prices are on their longest winning streak since August, as production outages in Libya and Canada add to rising concerns after last week's U.S. airstrikes in Syria.