European stocks closed marginally lower on Monday as the sustained increase in energy prices added to macroeconomic headwinds for the European economy. The Euro STOXX 50 eased 0.1% to 6,530 and the STOXX Europe 600 dropped 0.2% to 656. European natural gas prices extended their surge toward multi-year highs as the prolonged blockade of LNG tankers from the Middle East magnified shortages in renewable power generation in the central part of the continent, as low river-tides forced multiple nuclear power plants to shut down. Yields in major economies rose to multi-decade highs, pressuring banks consumer-sensitive luxury companies. Santander, Deutsche Bank, LVMH, and Adidas lost between 1% and 3.4%. On the other hand, ASML rose 2.6%, tracking US AI companies following strong results from Anthropic. Also, Argenx surged 1% after reporting a successful trial for its drug Vyvgart.