Europe's benchmark stock index managed to squeeze out a small gain after a choppy session on Friday, with an advance for French media company Vivendi SA and U.K. drug giant AstraZeneca PLC helping to push the benchmark higher for the week.

U.S. stocks closed slightly lower on Friday to record their first weekly retreat in nearly a month as investors weighed an uncertain political environment stemming from President Donald Trump's firing of former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey.

Asian stocks opened largely higher Monday as investors continued to shake off reasons to worry. Over the weekend, North Korea tested a new type of missile, and a global cyberattack hit computers in business, government and health care. But regional equities strength has persisted in recent weeks despite concerns including North Korea and China's economy, and continued Monday amid signs of investor hope regarding China.