European Stocks Cut Gains

2025-12-17 16:34 By Joana Taborda 1 min. read

European equities were mostly lower on Wednesday, reversing early gains and extending losses for a second consecutive session.

The STOXX 50 fell 0.7%, while the STOXX 600 closed little changed.

ASML Holding tumbled 4% after a Reuters report showed a team in Shenzhen had completed a working prototype of an EUV machine in early 2025, which will potentially reduce China’s demand for ASML’s products.

Siemens was also down 2% and Schneider Electric fell 2.9%.

In contrast, defense stocks rebounded after Germany's parliamentary budget committee cleared more than €50 billion in defense contracts over the next few years.

Safran rose 0.5%, while Rheinmetall climbed 1.7%.

Energy stocks also posted gains, with BP up 0.9%, Shell rising 1.4%, and Eni advancing 0.5%.

Investors are now bracing for a busy day of monetary policy decisions tomorrow.

The ECB is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged, while the BoE is almost certain to resume its rate-cutting cycle.



News Stream
European Stocks Edge Lower
European stocks closed a choppy session slightly lower on Thursday, well above session lows on signs of a potential agreement between US and Iran. The Euro STOXX 50 fell 0.3% to 6,055 and the STOXX Europe 600 fell 0.5% to 625. Reports indicated the US and Iran were close to agreeing on a 60-day memorandum that extends the ongoing ceasefire and gradually restores the flow of vessels and tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. Energy commodities and sovereign yields pulled back. Still, banks and insurers extended the losses from yesterday with Santander, Allianz, and AXA dropping around 2%. Industrials were also down with Siemens and Schneider dropping around 1% each. Still, stocks of AI infrastructure companies were higher with ASML adding 1% and Infineon jumping 4.5%. Also, Rheinmetall soared 5% after Ukraine ratified a $105 billion EU loan deal.
2026-05-28
European Stocks Fall on Thursday
Stocks in Europe traded lower on Thursday, with the STOXX 50 falling 0.3% and the STOXX 600 down 0.5%, as market volatility persisted amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East and sharp swings in oil prices, which remain well above pre-conflict levels. In the latest developments, both the US and Iran launched new strikes, keeping investors on edge. Luxury, cyclical, pharmaceutical, and financial stocks led the declines, while the technology sector outperformed. Among major movers, HSBC Holdings (-1.4%), Novartis (-1.8%), AstraZeneca (-2.6%), Bayer (-2.1%), LVMH (-1.5%), Hermès (-1.8%), and Intesa Sanpaolo (-1.2%) traded lower. In contrast, ASML Holding (+0.5%), Shell (+0.3%), and STMicroelectronics (+2.5%) posted gains.
2026-05-28
European Stocks Poised for Lower Open
European equity markets were set for a weaker open on Thursday as renewed hostilities between the US and Iran reduced hopes for a near-term peace agreement that could end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The two sides also remained deadlocked over several key issues, including Tehran’s insistence on retaining control of Hormuz and preserving its nuclear program. In Europe, investors will focus on upcoming Eurozone business and consumer confidence data, while the corporate calendar remains quiet with no major earnings releases scheduled. In premarket trading, Euro Stoxx 50 and Stoxx 600 futures were both down around 0.8%.
2026-05-28