European shares were set to rise on Monday, gaining ground for a fourth session in a row, as stocks track a rally in U.S. and Asian shares after American Express's forecast-beating results fuelled positive sentiment over the battered financial services sector.
Energy stocks will find support in crude oil prices, which flirted with the $120 level on worries over supply .
Financial bookmakers, or spread betters, in London expected Britain's FTSE 100 index to open between 20 and 33 points higher, the German DAX 12 to 44 points higher, and the French CAC 40 20 to 31 points higher.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares rose 1.1 percent on Friday, closing at at 1,330.84 points, boosted by Ericsson's forecast-beating earnings. After a dismal first quarter, Europe's benchmark index has gained 5.4 percent so far in April, on track to record its best monthly performance since October 2003.
"We are expecting a good start to the week in Europe and the U.S. The corporate reporting season rolls on and better than expected results continue to be the theme for investors," Oliver Stevens, head of trading at IG Markets wrote in a note.