European Stocks Rebound

European stocks moved higher on Tuesday, with the STOXX 50 rising 2.4% and the STOXX 600 gaining 1.8%, marking their first advances in three and four sessions, respectively, amid hopes that the conflict with Iran could soon come to an end. US President Trump said the military operation in Iran may conclude soon and is progressing well ahead of the initially projected four- to five-week timeline. Meanwhile, oil prices fell below $100 per barrel after President Trump hinted at several measures aimed at keeping energy prices under control. All sectors traded in positive territory, led by technology and financial stocks. ASML Holding climbed 4.5%, HSBC Holdings advanced 2.9%, Hermes gained 2.3%, Siemens rose 3.3%, and Banco Santander jumped 4.4%. Also, Volkswagen shares added 2.7% after the company said it expects profitability to improve this year. Hugo Boss surged 5.1% after reporting fourth-quarter profit and sales that exceeded market expectations.

European equity markets were set for a higher open on Tuesday amid hopes for a swift resolution to the Iran war. US President Donald Trump said the military operation in Iran may soon end and that it is running well ahead of the initial four- to five-week estimated timeframe. Oil prices also retreated below $100 a barrel after Trump unveiled several measures aimed at keeping energy prices down, while G7 finance ministers said the group “stands ready” to release oil from strategic reserves if needed. Global equities had recently plunged amid uncertainty over the trajectory of the Iran conflict, while surging oil prices raised concerns about economic growth and a potential resurgence of inflation. In Europe, investors will assess German and French trade data, Italian producer inflation, and Turkish industrial production figures. Earnings are also due from Volkswagen, Gea Group, and Infrastrutture Wire, among others. In premarket trading, the Euro Stoxx 50 jumped more than 1%.

European stocks closed firmly lower on Monday, extending the plunge this month as another session of higher energy prices worsened the inflation outlook in the continent. The Eurozone's STOXX 50 fell by 0.7% to 5,681 and the pan-European STOXX 600 dropped 0.7% to 595. Banks, industrial companies, and companies that produce discretionary goods continued to be the most impacted by the exchange of strikes in the Persian Gulf and the spike in oil and gas prices. UniCredit and Deutsche Bank lost 1.5% each as Eurozone yield extended their surge on worries that the ECB will deliver a rate hike this year, worsening the outlook on credit activity. Meanwhile, Siemens and Schneider Electric fell 1.7% each as the surge in power prices is set to hurt their margins. Outside the Eurozone, Roche fell 3% after the company’s breast cancer drug combination failed to meet its primary endpoint in a late-stage trial.