By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch

Miners slump as iron ore prices fall

European stock markets moved mainly higher on Monday as investors geared up for a busy week of economic events, including inflation data and the European Central Bank meeting.

The Stoxx Europe 600 index rose 0.3% to 384.87, extending its monthly advance to 2.5%. That would mark a second straight month of gains for the pan-European index, after rallying 8% in October when global central banks hinted monetary policy would stay accommodative.

In that vein, the ECB meeting on Thursday this week remains a key event for financial markets after ECB President Mario Draghi at an October news conference emphasized the central bank's willingness to do more to boost growth and inflation. Economists widely expect the ECB to extend the horizon of its current quantitative-easing program, which is currently slated to end in September 2016. Some economists further forecast a cut to the deposit rate.

Inflation data are also looming this week, which could put additional pressure on the central back to launch further easing. Consumer-price data for Germany are due at 1 p.m. London time, or 8 a.m. Eastern Time, on Monday, while the eurozone number comes out on Wednesday.

Index moves: Germany's DAX 30 index was up 0.7% to 11,376.71 ahead of the inflation release, propped up by a 3.1% rise for Infineon Technologies AG (IFX.XE). The chip maker is on track for a 26% monthly gain, which would be the best monthly rise since March 2010.

France's CAC 40 index added 0.5% to 4,953.58, while the U.K.'s FTSE 100 index dropped 0.2% to 6,365.44 (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ftse-100-lower-as-iron-ore-slump-puts-pressure-on-miners-2015-11-30). The British benchmark was weighed by its miners as iron ore prices slumped amid a continued commodities rout. Shares of BHP Billiton PLC (BLT.LN) (BHP.AU) (BHP.AU) fell 4%, Anglo American PLC (AAL.LN) lost 2.2% and Glencore PLC (GLEN.LN) (GLEN.LN) gave up 1.7%.

Other movers: Shares of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC (ADN.LN) shaved off 3.8% after the company reported a fall in full-year assets under management (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/aberdeen-asset-profit-up-despite-tough-conditions-2015-11-30).

Shares of Delta Lloyd NV (DL.AE) slumped 6.2% after the Dutch insurer said it plans to raise 1 billion euros (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/delta-lloyd-plans-1-billion-rights-issue-2015-11-30) ($1.06 billion) through a rights issue to strengthen its solvency position.

On a more upbeat note, Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHA.XE) advanced 2.2% after the airline over the weekend reached a pay deal (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/lufthansa-signs-pay-deal-with-33000-workers-2015-11-28) with 33,000 workers.

Anheuser-Busch InBev NV (ABI.BT) (ABI.BT) added 0.4% after news the brewer plans to sell two of SABMiller PLC's (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ab-inbev-plans-to-sell-grolsch-peroni-brands-2015-11-30)(SAB.JO) (SAB.JO) best-known beer brands, Grolsch and Peroni, as the company seeks to ease European regulatory concerns over its pending acquisition of its rival.

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 30, 2015 04:30 ET (09:30 GMT)