European markets opened higher on Monday as investors appear to brush off concerns over the U.K.’s departure from the EU, which took place last Friday, and the latest coronavirus developments.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 added 0.3% in early trade, tech stocks rising 0.9% to lead gains while basic resources dropped 1%.

Monday is the first trading day since Brexit took place. The U.K. exited the EU at 11 p.m. on Friday and has now started an 11-month transition period in which it hopes to strike a trade deal with the bloc.

Negotiations are expected to be turbulent after the U.K.’s foreign minister said over the weekend that the U.K. would “not be aligning with EU rules” in any post-Brexit trade deal. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar warned both sides not to set up rigid “red lines” ahead of talks.

Source: CNBC