European stocks scored modest gains Monday, helped by jumps for Royal Bank of Scotland, Rolls-Royce and furniture seller Steinhoff International. Investors also tracked a tightening French presidential race, as well as progress made on debt-laden Greece's bailout at a meeting of eurozone finance ministers.

Asian stocks held ground on Tuesday though Chinese equities surged to a fresh two-month high as domestic funds piled into financial counters on expectations the world's second biggest economy may have turned a corner. With U.S. markets closed for the Presidents Holiday on Monday, Asian markets have had few global cues off which to trade.