Eurozone stocks higher awaiting ECB help

London - Eurozone stocks rose on Monday with all eyes on this week's policy meeting of the European Central Bank, which is widely expected to boost the single currency bloc with more stimulus.

Following Thursday's ECB gathering, attention will turn to Friday's US jobs data and the outcome of OPEC's meeting on oil output levels.

Markets will be keeping a watch also over the week-long Paris climate summit - a springboard for billion-dollar initiatives designed to leverage the huge investments for encouraging clean technology and helping poor countries go green.

"The COP21 climate change conference in Paris is occupying the attention of traders in a quiet session for economic data leading into the big events at the end of the week," said Jasper Lawler, market analyst at traders CMC Markets.

"It seems likely a market-friendly... deal will get signed where it's agreed to tackle climate issues without any specifics on financing and a specific target for emissions."

Around 13:30 on Monday, Frankfurt's main shares index was up 1.0% and Paris grew 0.8%.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index was flat.

"Arguably the US is going to dictate the overall direction of trading this week, especially with an incredibly important non-farm (jobs reading) Friday on the cards," said Connor Campbell, analyst at Spreadex trading group.

Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen is meanwhile due to appear before Congress, with markets hoping for more guidance ahead of the central bank's expected interest rate cut next month.

In foreign exchange on Monday, the euro hit a fresh seven-month low point at $1.0563 before recovering.

Talk of further ECB stimulus and a US rate hike have combined to put fresh pressure on the euro, which is sitting at lows not seen since April.

"After last week's (market) doldrums, this week's agenda will come as a shock to the system," Bank of New Zealand strategist Raiko Shareef said in a note to clients.

"Front of mind will be the ECB's policy decision. The US employment reports will garner interest, but only a disastrous result would likely derail the (Fed policy board) from raising rates next month."