European Stocks Fall as Tech Shares Sink

European stocks fell on Thursday, with the STOXX 50 down 0.7% and the STOXX 600 slipping 0.3%, tracking losses across US and Asian markets amid a global tech sell-off. Chip stocks tumbled on concerns over AI-related valuations, while high US inflation, prospects of high interest rates and elevated oil prices added to investor caution. Markets also kept a close eye on fresh corporate earnings. ASML Holding plunged 6.6%, while Infineon and STMicroelectronics dropped 9.2% and 7.3%, respectively, among the STOXX 600’s worst performers. Basic resources and industrial goods stocks also came under pressure, with Siemens falling 2.7%, Schneider Electric losing 5.1%, ABB declining 4.6%, and Siemens Energy dropping 7.7%. In contrast, telecoms and household goods stocks advanced. Ericsson led the STOXX 600, surging nearly 10% after returning to sales growth in Q3 and reporting better-than-expected earnings. Pernod Ricard added 3.4% after a smaller-than-expected sales decline last quarter.

European equity markets were poised to open lower on Thursday as the global selloff in technology and artificial intelligence stocks deepened, while stronger-than-expected US inflation heightened concerns over further interest rate hikes. Investors shifted toward safe-haven assets, including government bonds, driving yields sharply lower across global markets. In Europe, attention will turn to UK GDP, French inflation and Eurozone industrial production data. On the corporate front, Swedish telecom giant Ericsson reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings, supported by solid demand for mobile network equipment. French spirits maker Pernod Ricard also posted a smaller-than-expected sales decline last quarter, as growth in India helped offset persistent weakness in the US and China. Meanwhile, Finland’s Nordea Bank fell short of earnings expectations amid narrower lending margins. In premarket trading, Euro Stoxx 50 and Stoxx 600 futures declined 0.9% and 0.5%, respectively.

European equities closed higher on Wednesday, resisting sharp losses in North American equity markets amid positive corporate developments for local corporate giants. The Euro STOXX 50 added 0.5% to 6,195 and the STOXX Europe 600 advanced 0.5% to 638.0. ASML rose by 1.2% after it beat earnings and revenue expectations and issued a strong sales forecast for the fourth quarter. The Eurozone's largest company also said that AI-driven demand for its chipmaking equipment was so strong that it would be unable to fully meet customer demand in 2027 or 2028, adding that it was exploring ways to expand capacity. The move contrasted sharply with a pessimistic session for global AI infrastructure stocks amid the outlook of higher rates and improved offerings from Chinese competitors. Infineon dropped 1.2% and Siemens Energy sank 5.5%. Meanwhile, hot inflation from the US added bets of a Fed rate hike this year, pressuring banks. BNP Paribas, Intesa Sanpaolo, and Deutsche bank fell close to 1%.