Euro zone stock markets were advancing as a rise in some major financial shares offset the impact of weaker commodity stocks weighing on the British market. The euro zone's blue-chip Euro STOXX 50 index edged up by 0.2 percent, while Germany's DAX and France's CAC indexes both nudged higher by 0.1 percent. However, the broader, pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index slipped 0.2 percent, reflecting the impact of a 0.9 percent decline in Britain's FTSE 100 market. Oil and mining stocks fell after economic data over the weekend from China, which is a major energy and metals consumer, showed another heavy fall in factory-gate prices and a surprise slump in exports. However, some financial stocks fared better to lend support to euro zone equity markets. German insurer Allianz rose 1.7 percent after price target upgrades from JP Morgan, Berenberg and Exane BNP Paribas. Shares in Italy's Banco Popolare also climbed 3.4 percent after the company reported a rise in profits late on Friday. The Euro STOXX 50 is up around 16 percent since the start of 2015, while the FTSEurofirst is also up by a similar amount. Germany's DAX is up around 17 percent since the start of the year, although it is some 7 percent below a record high reached in April. Meanwhile, Japan's Nikkei share average edged up as investors took confidence from gains in Shanghai's main index, shaking off fears over declining China exports revealed by data released at the weekend. The Nikkei average rose 0.4 percent to 20,808.69. The broader Topix gained 0.7 percent to close at an 8-year high of 1,691.29, while the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 climbed 0.6 percent to 15,251.93.

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