European Stocks Head Lower on Oil Rally

2026-03-12 06:07 By Jam Kaimo Samonte 1 min. read

European equity markets were set to open lower on Thursday, extending losses from the previous session as oil prices continued to climb, reigniting concerns about inflation and reducing the likelihood of central bank rate cuts.

Oil prices rose for a second straight day as the prospect of a prolonged Iran war overshadowed a coordinated release of oil reserves by major economies.

The European Union warned that inflation across the bloc could exceed 3% this year.

On the trade front, the Trump administration launched new trade investigations into China, the EU, and several other economies, aimed at replacing President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs that were recently struck down by the Supreme Court.

There are no major economic releases scheduled in Europe today, while earnings are expected from BMW, RWE, and Daimler Truck, among others.

In premarket trade, Euro Stoxx 50 and Stoxx 600 futures were down 0.9% and 0.7%, respectively.



News Stream
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