UPDATE 2-European stocks start week on steady footing, China worries linger

European shares inched higher on Monday with the travel & leisure sector leading gains, helping to limit the impact of weak inflation data from China that highlighted sluggish demand in the world's second-largest economy. European travel & leisure stocks gained 1.3%, attempting to rebound from falls of over 4% last week. "Equities recover in Monday trading," said Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG.