Leisure and financials remain the best performers in the UK. The pound regained some strength, after new data from the Office for National Statistics shows Britain's economy grew in May, which was unexpected.

Output advanced 0.5% between April and May, against expectations of a flat performance by economists polled by Reuters. However, investors are conflicted over this data, which strengthens the case for an aggressive rate hike from the Bank of England.

Pub chain J D Wetherspoon dropped more than 6% after it warned of losses this year caused by an increase in labour and marketing costs.

 

Things to read today:

Did Central Banks balance sheets really need to get so big? (Financial Times)

Europe’s Heat Wave Is Bad for Energy Prices, But the Drought is Worse (Bloomberg)

The race to replace Boris Johnson is wide open, and laying bare divisions in the Conservative Party (CNBC)