European Stocks Renew Record Highs

European equity indices advanced on Wednesday, buoyed by easing concerns over potential disruptions from AI and cautious optimism ahead of further clarity on US trade policy. The Euro STOXX 50 climbed 0.9% to close at a record high of 6,172, while the broader STOXX Europe 600 gained 0.7% to a record of 633. Investor focus now shifts to earnings from Nvidia, due later in the day, which are expected to provide fresh insight into the strength and sustainability of AI-driven demand. ASML, whose orders from Nvidia make up a large part of revenue, added 2%. HSBC surged 7.6% after the bank reported stronger-than-expected results for 2025. On the macroeconomic side, German consumer confidence unexpectedly weakened heading into March, while sentiment in France improved in February, offering a mixed picture of household confidence across the region.

European equities advanced on Wednesday, buoyed by easing concerns over potential disruptions from AI and cautious optimism ahead of further clarity on US trade policy. The Euro Stoxx 50 climbed 0.7% to a record high of 6,160, while the broader STOXX Europe 600 gained 0.4%, surpassing the 630 mark for the first time. Investor focus now shifts to earnings from Nvidia, due later in the day, which are expected to provide fresh insight into the strength and sustainability of AI-driven demand. In Europe, shares of HSBC Holdings surged more than 5% after the bank reported stronger-than-expected results for 2025. On the macroeconomic side, German consumer confidence unexpectedly weakened heading into March, while sentiment in France improved in February, offering a mixed picture of household confidence across the region.

European equity markets were poised for a firmer open on Wednesday, tracking gains in global markets as concerns over potential AI disruptions eased. Attention now turns to earnings from Nvidia later in the day for clearer signals on the durability of AI-related demand. Investors also monitored US trade developments after Trump criticized the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling during his State of the Union address. In Europe, market participants will evaluate German and French consumer confidence data, Germany’s final GDP reading, and final Eurozone inflation figures. On the corporate front, HSBC reported stronger-than-expected 2025 earnings, supported by growth in its wealth management division and its core Hong Kong franchise. Investors are also awaiting results from Iberdrola, E.ON, and Diageo, among others. In premarket trade, Euro Stoxx 50 and Stoxx 600 futures were both up more than 0.1%.