European Stocks Turn Positive

European stocks moved into positive territory on Thursday after a lacklustre open, with both the STOXX 50 and the STOXX 600 rising 0.3%, extending gains of more than 1% in the previous session. Investors continued to monitor developments in the conflict with Iran while assessing potential signs of renewed negotiations. According to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran told the US in previous talks it was willing to eliminate its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium in exchange for “something good in return,” Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said. Utilities and technology stocks led the gains. Among megacaps, ASML Holding (+0.3%), HSBC (+1%), AstraZeneca (+0.7%), Novo Nordisk (+1.4%), Shell (+1%), and L’Oréal (+0.5%) traded higher.

European stocks moved lower on Thursday, with the STOXX 50 falling 0.6% and the STOXX 600 slipping 0.3%, after gains of more than 1% in the previous session. Early relief faded as concerns resurfaced over an escalation in the conflict with Iran, now in its sixth day. Both Iran and the US signaled that attacks could intensify in the coming days, pushing oil and natural gas prices higher. Financials were the worst-performing sector, followed by healthcare. Among major decliners were LVMH (-1.4%), Roche (-0.9%), Novartis (-0.6%), Siemens (-1%), Banco Santander (-1.7%), and UniCredit (-1.6%).

European equity markets were set to open lower on Thursday, surrendering some of the previous session’s gains as geopolitical risks remained elevated, with oil prices and the dollar resuming their climb. The US-Israeli campaign against Iran has now entered its sixth day, keeping investors cautious about further escalation and the possibility of a prolonged conflict. Reports also indicated that Iranian operatives had reached out to the US to explore potential peace talks, though Tehran later denied the outreach. On the trade front, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said President Donald Trump’s recently announced 15% global tariff is expected to take effect later this week. In Europe, investors will monitor economic releases including Eurozone retail sales and French industrial production. Corporate earnings are also due from Merck, Deutsche Post, and Snam, among others. In premarket trading, Euro Stoxx 50 futures fell 0.9%, while Stoxx Europe 600 futures declined 0.5%.