LONDON — European stock markets kicked off the new month higher, as the defense and health-care sectors received a boost from corporate news.

The Stoxx Aerospace and Defense index rose 2.2%, after the U.K. government announced Sunday that Norway had placed a £10 billion ($13.5 billion) order for British-made warships for its Armed Forces. It will be the U.K.'s biggest ever warship export deal by value and support 4,000 jobs into the 2030s, according to a government statement.

The Type 26 frigates will be built at BAE Systems ' shipyards in Glasgow, Scotland, with shares of the company rising 1.9% on Monday. Other gainers in the sector included the U.K.'s Babcock International , up 2.1%.

Shares of Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk , meanwhile, ticked 1.8% h

See Full Page