Europe open: Central banks in the spotlight

Stocks started the session on the front foot with the market spotlight firmly on the multiple central bank speakers who are scheduled to take to the podium throughout the session.

As of 0859 BST, the benchmark Stoxx 600 was down by 0.13% or 0.51 points to 380.99, although the Dax was faring slightly better, rising 0.18% or 22.11 points to 12,465.82.

Paris's Ca-40, meanwhile, was flat at 5,165.56.

Markets participants were looking for confirmation (or not) from policymakers that the pace of withdrawal of monetary policy around the world was about to accelerate, especially as regarded the euro area. Yet also in the US there were concerns in some corners of the market that the US central bank might be about to commit a so-called 'policy mistake'.

The Bank of England was also facing its own tricky situation.

Against that backdrop, European Central Bank governing council member Benoit Coeure was set to deliver a speech at 1400 BST at the FX Contract Group meeting in Frankfurt.

Preceding him at 1100 BST would be BoE chief economist Andy Haldane, followed by a speech from fellow Monetary Policy Committee member Ben Broadbent at noon.

Later, during the US session, Federal Reserve governor Lael Brainard was due to speak about monetary policy at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.

All of the above was to take place ahead of US central bank chair Janet Yellen's eagerly awaited testimony before a Congressional panel on Wednesday as part of her semi-annual monetary policy report to Congress.

In terms of economic data, italian industrial production expanded at a 0.7% month-on-month clip in May (consensus: 0.5%) after a downwardly revised fall of 0.5% for April.

On the corporate front, stock in Thyssenkrupp stock was a top gainer amid reports the company was to shed as many as 2,500 administrative jobs.

Shares in Lufthansa were also trading on the front foot ahead of the carrier's latest traffic figures due out at 1000 BST.

France's Arkema voiced confidence in its ability to meet its 2017 EBITDA target while issuing new targets for 2023.