European Stocks Close Lower

2026-08-31 16:22 By Andre Joaquim 1 min. read

European stocks closed firmly lower on Monday as higher oil prices consolidated expectations of more rate hikes by the European Central Bank.

The Euro STOXX 50 fell 0.9% to 5,426 and the STOXX Europe 600 dropped 0.6% to 651.

The US and Iran exchanged new strikes and drove oil prices to rise sharply.

Higher energy prices had drove inflation in Germany, Spain, and France to pick up in August, with data from the Stocks in AI infrastructure booked sharp losses ahead of Broadcom, and Palo Alto earnings this week, maintaining volatility on the sector with ASML and Siemens Energy falling 2.9% and 5%, respectively.

Industrials also pulled back with Airbus, Schneider, and Rheinmetall dropping between 4% and 2.75%.

For August, the Euro STOXX 50 gained 1% and the STOXX Europe 600 added 0.3%, underperforming due to its higher exposure to UK miners and pharmaceutical companies.



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European Stocks Close Lower
European stocks closed firmly lower on Monday as higher oil prices consolidated expectations of more rate hikes by the European Central Bank. The Euro STOXX 50 fell 0.9% to 5,426 and the STOXX Europe 600 dropped 0.6% to 651. The US and Iran exchanged new strikes and drove oil prices to rise sharply. Higher energy prices had drove inflation in Germany, Spain, and France to pick up in August, with data from the Stocks in AI infrastructure booked sharp losses ahead of Broadcom, and Palo Alto earnings this week, maintaining volatility on the sector with ASML and Siemens Energy falling 2.9% and 5%, respectively. Industrials also pulled back with Airbus, Schneider, and Rheinmetall dropping between 4% and 2.75%. For August, the Euro STOXX 50 gained 1% and the STOXX Europe 600 added 0.3%, underperforming due to its higher exposure to UK miners and pharmaceutical companies.
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European stocks were subdued on Monday, with both the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 trading around the flatline as oil prices rose amid renewed tensions in the Middle East. US forces struck two Iranian missile launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran retaliated by attacking US forces in Jordan. Adding to market jitters, President Trump said that Iran’s main oil terminal on Kharg Island was being “blown to smithereens”. The energy sector was among the top performers, with TotalEnergies rising 1.4% and Eni gaining 1.5%. By contrast, Siemens Energy fell nearly 4%, making it the biggest decliner on the STOXX 600. ASML Holding (-1%) and Roche (-0.7%) were also in the red. For August as a whole, however, the STOXX 50 has gained 2%, while the STOXX 600 is up 0.9% so far, after both indices reached record highs in the first half of the month.
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European equity markets were set to open lower on Monday, starting the week on a weaker note as hawkish comments from Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh revived expectations for a US interest rate hike next month. In his Jackson Hole address on Friday, Warsh warned that inflation isn’t meaningfully slowing and reaffirmed policymakers’ commitment to returning inflation to their 2% target. Inflation concerns also intensified as oil prices jumped amid renewed tensions in the Middle East, with the US military targeting Iranian rocket launchers over the weekend. In Europe, investors will assess German inflation data for August, along with Turkish Q2 GDP figures and July unemployment data. Meanwhile, there are no major earnings reports scheduled in Europe today. In premarket trading, Euro Stoxx 50 and Stoxx 600 futures were both down around 0.2%.
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