European shares near six-week high as worry over Greece recedes

European shares edged higher on Monday, closing in on fresh six week highs, as fears about Greece receded after country's banks re-opened and Dutch chemical firm OCI surging on merger talks. 

The pan-European FTSEuro first 300 was up 0.2%, close to its highest level since May.

Pre-market trading was marred by technical issues on Eurex, which prevented the trading of futures and options on the exchange.

Shares in euro zone banks rose 0.5%, the top STOXX Europe sectoral gainer. Greek banks have just re-opened their banks across the country after a three-week shutdown, officials said, although trading shares in these lenders remains off-limits with the Athens Stock Exchange still closed.

Amsterdam-listed chemical company OCI NV rose 10%, the top gainer on the STOXX Europe 600, afterconfirming it is in advanced merger talks with US fertilizer maker CF Industries Holdings Inc.