The pan-European STOXX 600 inched up 0.1 per cent, as of 0832 GMT, holding just below a record peak hit last week.
German agriculture and pharmaceutical firm Bayer climbed 2.6 per cent after reporting a rise in quarterly adjusted earnings that beat analysts’ forecasts.
Upbeat earnings outlook from Primark-owner AB Foods supported British stocks.
Insurers were among the biggest decliners, with German group Munich Re falling 3.1 per cent after saying it expected more COVID-related losses in its reinsurance business than previously expected.
Wall Street indexes cheered the passage of the U.S. infrastructure bill on Monday, though worries that a high consumer prices reading on Wednesday could revive talks of interest rate hikes kept overall gains in check.
