The Stockholm Stock Exchange opened with significant gains on Monday. News of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran has provided a boost to global equity markets. In corporate news, Netel and Infrea have announced a merger.

As of 09.20, the OMXS30 index rose 2.02 percent to 3,176.53. Shares worth approximately SEK 2.8bn changed hands on the Stockholm exchange.

Among the major industrial sectors, basic materials led the advance with a 3.7 percent increase. Conversely, the energy sector lagged behind, falling 2.8 percent.

Within the blue-chip OMXS30 index, Boliden climbed 6.2 percent, while SKF B rose 5.3 percent. Telia saw the weakest performance, dropping 3.7 percent, while Tele 2 B declined 2.3 percent.

The boards of infrastructure company Netel and construction firm Infrea have agreed to merge the two companies in accordance with the Companies Act. The merger will be executed via Netel absorbing Infrea. Four shares in Infrea will entitle holders to seventeen new shares in Netel. In conjunction with the merger, Netel is conducting a rights issue of up to SEK 202m. Netel shares rose 2.6 percent, while Infrea fell 0.4 percent.

Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has received US approval for Truqap in combination with abirateron and prednisone for the treatment of adult patients with PTEN-deficient metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. This marks the first and only targeted treatment for this patient group in the US. The stock is up 0.3 percent.

Technology firm Mycronic has secured an order for an SLX mask writer from a new customer in Europe. The order value is estimated between $6m and $8m, with delivery scheduled for the third quarter of this year. The stock increased 2.7 percent.

Research firm Synact Pharma announced that its Phase 2 Advance study of the drug candidate resomelagon for rheumatoid arthritis failed to reach statistical significance for its primary endpoint, which measured changes in disease activity via DAS28-CRP after 12 weeks of treatment. The stock was penalized, falling 24 percent.

Martin Åberg, Deputy CEO and Head of the Data Center business area at fiber communications company Hexatronic, has decided to step down to focus on private investments. He will remain in his role until a successor is appointed. The stock declined 1.2 percent.

Lightning Group has signed an agreement to acquire all shares in the lighting company Aura Light. Last year, the acquired business reported revenue of SEK 280m with an operating loss of SEK 17m. Lightning Group is launching a SEK 23m rights issue to finance the acquisition. The deal was very well received by the market, with the stock advancing 61 percent.

Blood analysis company Cellavision climbed 10 percent following a buy recommendation from Dagens industri.

Telia's decline is attributed to Berenberg lowering its recommendation to sell from hold. The price target was raised from SEK 31 to SEK 40.