European Stocks Ease from Record Highs

2026-02-19 08:26 By Joana Ferreira 1 min. read

European equities edged lower on Thursday, retreating slightly from record highs reached in the previous session.

Both the Euro Stoxx 50 and the broader Stoxx Europe 600 slipped 0.1%, as investors adopted a cautious stance amid escalating US-Iran tensions and a fresh batch of earnings reports from major corporates.

Meanwhile, investors digested minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting, which revealed that many policymakers are concerned disinflation may be slower and more uneven than previously anticipated.

Among single stocks, Nestle climbed more than 3% after surpassing Q4 sales growth expectations.

Rio Tinto declined 3.8% after reporting flat annual earnings that fell short of forecasts, while Airbus tumbled more than 5% after cutting its main jet production target and Renault lost 1.5% due to a significant drop in net income.

German property group Vonovia rose 1.5% after being upgraded by Morgan Stanley, marking a shift following nearly two years of an underweight rating.



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