European Stocks Gain for 2nd Session

2026-03-31 16:04 By Andre Joaquim 1 min. read

European stocks inched higher for a second session as markets continued to assess how the corporate sector may fare in an uncertain macroeconomic backdrop.

The Eurozone's STOXX 50 rose 0.3% to 5,560 and the pan-European STOXX 600 gained 0.4% to 583.

Both the headline and core inflation rates in the Eurozone were slightly under expectations in March, although the data confirmed that the outbreak of war in the Middle East already had an aggressive inflationary impact in the bloc's economy.

ECB President Lagarde and Chief Economist Lane outlined that the developments are likely to warrant a hawkish response by the central bank, although the magnitude will vary depending on the energy shock faced.

Banks rose with further support from a drop in Eurozone bonds, with UniCredit, Deutsche Bank, and BBVA gaining up to 2%.

Stocks with exposure to AI sentiment also rose amid Wall Street's rebound, with Infineon adding 2.2%.

The war in the Middle East drove the STOXX 50 to slide 9.5% in March.



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European Stocks Gain for 2nd Session
European stocks inched higher for a second session as markets continued to assess how the corporate sector may fare in an uncertain macroeconomic backdrop. The Eurozone's STOXX 50 rose 0.3% to 5,560 and the pan-European STOXX 600 gained 0.4% to 583. Both the headline and core inflation rates in the Eurozone were slightly under expectations in March, although the data confirmed that the outbreak of war in the Middle East already had an aggressive inflationary impact in the bloc's economy. ECB President Lagarde and Chief Economist Lane outlined that the developments are likely to warrant a hawkish response by the central bank, although the magnitude will vary depending on the energy shock faced. Banks rose with further support from a drop in Eurozone bonds, with UniCredit, Deutsche Bank, and BBVA gaining up to 2%. Stocks with exposure to AI sentiment also rose amid Wall Street's rebound, with Infineon adding 2.2%. The war in the Middle East drove the STOXX 50 to slide 9.5% in March.
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