Gains are likely to be capped by ongoing concerns around a fast-spreading Covid mutation that was first identified in Britain.
Britain's FTSE 100 is set to open barely above the flatline at 6,420, Germany's DAX is expected to climb 70 points to 13,320 and France's CAC is seen rising 30 points to 5,422, according to index data from IG. Meanwhile, the U.K. and EU remain deadlocked over post-Brexit trade relations as the Dec. 31 deadline approaches, with disputes over issues such as fisheries plaguing talks. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Monday that the country could still crash out without a deal.