European Stocks Lower on Friday

2026-05-15 07:30 By Joana Taborda 1 min. read

European stocks fell on Friday, with the STOXX 50 declining 1.8% and the STOXX 600 losing 1.1%, snapping a two-session winning streak as investors refocused on inflation risks and the prospect of higher interest rates.

Tensions in the Middle East continue to mount.

Iran said around 30 ships were transiting the Strait, though traffic remains well below normal pre-conflict levels.

Meanwhile, President Trump signaled a tougher stance toward Tehran, saying he would no longer be patient with Iran and urging the country to reach an agreement with Washington.

Among major movers, ASML Holding fell around 3%, HSBC lost 1.1%, and Siemens dropped 2%.

Mining stocks were among the weakest performers, with Fresnillo tumbling 5.6% and Antofagasta shedding 5.5%, while Infineon also declined 5.5%, placing all three among the biggest laggards on the STOXX 600.

Despite Friday’s pullback, European equities remained higher for the week overall, with the STOXX 50 up 0.3% and the STOXX 600 gaining 0.6%.



News Stream
European Stocks Swing Lower
European stock indices closed lower after having spent most of the session higher, tracking the afternoon slump for US stocks as the aggressive rotation out of tech stocks rippled through demand for risk globally. The Euro STOXX 50 fell 0.2% to 6,050 and the STOXX Europe 600 dropped 0.4% to 619. Companies with exposure to software services and datacenter infrastructure dropped sharply as skepticism over the sector's rally sustainability was reignited. Infineon, SAP, Schneider, and Siemens Energy slumped between 2% and 5.5%. banks also closed lower ahead of the expected rate hike by the European Central Bank this week, denting the outlook for fragile credit activity. Santander, ING, and Nordea dropped around 1%. In London, GSK eased 0.5% mid reports that the company is in talks to acquire oncology biotech Nuvalent.
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European equity markets were poised to open little changed on Tuesday, snapping a recent slide as traders assessed a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel after the two countries agreed to halt attacks against each other. Investors also looked ahead to the European Central Bank’s upcoming policy decision, where policymakers are widely expected to raise interest rates amid mounting inflationary pressures from elevated energy costs. Meanwhile, market participants will monitor Germany’s April trade and industrial production data for fresh signals on the region’s economic outlook. In corporate news, British pharmaceutical company GSK is reportedly in talks to acquire oncology biotech Nuvalent for more than $9 billion, according to the Financial Times. In premarket trading, Euro Stoxx 50 and Stoxx 600 futures were flat to slightly lower.
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