Europe Markets

European indexes close lower but Ryanair takes off

European indexes close lower
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European indexes close lower

All major European indexes closed lower on Monday after data revealed euro zone manufacturing activity expanded slightly less than expected in October.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 closed provisionally 0.9 percent lower at 1,340.3 points, The U.K.'s FTSE 100 and the French CAC 40 both unofficially ended down 1 percent, while the German DAX was 0.8 percent lower.

This came after Markit's final euro zone Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) showed manufacturing expanded a little less than forecast last month. The reading came in at 50.6, just below initial estimates of 50.7. Any figure over 50 indicates expansion.

Read MoreEuro zone manufacturing growth flimsy, Ireland shines

European markets


In stocks news, Ryanair closed up by around 7.7 percent after hiking its annual profit forecast by almost 20 percent following a surge in winter bookings. The budget airline said it would slash fares by up to 10.0 percent in the new year to gain more market share from rivals.

Read MoreRyanair hikes profit forecast on winter bookings

Where has 'cuddly' Ryanair gone?
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Where has 'cuddly' Ryanair gone?

Shares in the world's third-largest advertising group, Publicis, fell by as much as 4.5 percent on the news that it was set to acquire the U.S.'s Sapient for $3.7 billion. The all-cash transaction follows an attempted merger with Omnicom that was abandoned in May due to regulatory difficulties and cultural differences.

Read MoreHSBC sets aside $378M for forex investigation

HSBC stock slipped by up to 2.0 percent after it confirmed it had set aside $378 million for a U.K. FX rigging probe. The provision came on top of other charges revealed in the bank's third-quarter results, in which it reported a 2 percent rise in pre-tax profit up 2 percent to $4.61 billion.

HSBC is 'reassuringly expensive': Killik & Co
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HSBC is 'reassuringly expensive': Killik & Co

Troubled supermarket chain Tesco is exploring the possible sale of a stake in its banking arm, as it works to raise billions of pounds in additional capital, The Telegraph on Sunday reported. Shares traded by up to 1.0 percent higher on Monday.

U.S. stocks wavered on Monday, after October gains left the Dow Jones Industrial Average and at records. The benchmarks ended at all-time highs on Friday after the Bank of Japan unexpectedly expanded monetary stimulus.

Asian markets were mixed on the first trading day of November as investors digested a raft of Chinese data. Overall, the mood was quiet, with Japanese markets closed for a holiday.

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