European Stocks Rebound Slightly
2026-03-30 09:26
By
Joana Taborda
1 min. read
European stocks edged higher on Monday, with both the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 rising around 0.3% after a subdued start to the session.
Markets remained focused on developments in the Middle East and their implications for global growth and the monetary policy outlook.
Oil prices continued to climb, reaching fresh highs not seen since 2022 and investors increasingly believe that the potential economic drag from higher energy costs could limit central banks’ room to raise interest rates.
Geopolitical tensions with Iran showed no signs of easing, and US President Trump suggested the possibility of seizing Iran’s oil resources, including the key export hub of Kharg Island.
Utilities and energy led the gains while technology and basic materials also traded in the green.
Among individual stocks, Shell (1.5%), AstraZeneca (1.1%), Nestlé (1.4%), TotalEnergies (1.9%), and Iberdrola (2.1%) posted gains.
On the downside, HSBC (-0.2%), Hermès (-0.4%), Siemens (-0.5%), and UBS (-0.9%) moved lower.