European stocks close: stocks closed mixed after the mostly better-than-expected manufacturing PMIs from the Eurozone

Stock indices closed mixed after the mostly better-than-expected manufacturing PMIs from the Eurozone. Eurozone's final manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 52.4 in July from 52.5 in June, up from a preliminary reading of 52.2.

The upward revision was driven by a stronger than previously recorded rise in Germany.

Markit's Chief Economist Chris Williamson said that June's PMI was "the Eurozone manufacturing economy showed encouraging resilience in the face of the Greek debt crisis in July".

Germany's final manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) declined to 51.8 in July from 51.9 in June, up from a preliminary reading of 51.5.

The increase was driven by a rise in production and new orders.

"The German manufacturing sector remained stuck in a low gear at the start of the third quarter, with the PMI signalling further, albeit only modest, growth," Markit economist Oliver Kolodseike said.

France's final manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) dropped to 49.6 in July from 50.7 in June, in line with the preliminary reading.

Markit Economics released its manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the U.K. on Monday. The Markit/Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply manufacturing PMI for the U.K. increased to 51.9 in July from 51.4 in June, exceeding expectations for a rise to 51.6.

The increase was driven by the strong performance of the consumer goods sector.

New orders dropped to 52.2 in July, the lowest level since September 2014. The stronger pound weighed on new orders.

"Although an uptick in the headline PMI breaks the decelerating trend in UK manufacturing, growth remains near-stagnant and suggests that the sector is continuing to act as a drag on the economy. With the sterling-euro exchange rate still sapping export demand and constraining growth of total order inflows, its seems that we will again look to the service sector to sustain any semblance of reasonable economic growth in the third quarter," Markit's Senior Economist Rob Dobson said.

According to a Reuters report, the Athens stock exchange closed unofficially 16.2% lower on Monday. The Athens Stock Exchange reopened on Monday after a five-week halt.

Greek banking shares were the weakest performers.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,688.62 -7.66 -0.11 %

DAX 11,443.72 +134.73 +1.19 %

CAC 40 5,120.52 +37.91 +0.75 %