European Markets Dip Amid Middle East Tensions

(MENAFN) European equities ended Monday on a lower note as mounting geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a sharp increase in oil prices dampened investor confidence.

Global financial markets experienced volatility after oil prices soared, with Brent crude briefly approaching the $100 mark and US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures climbing 5% to $95.81 per barrel.

The sudden rise in energy costs followed production cuts by key suppliers, including Kuwait, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, after the Strait of Hormuz was closed.

This instability in the energy sector reverberated through stock markets, leading the Stoxx Europe 600 index to close down 0.63% at 594.92 points. Most sectors experienced declines, while increasing bond yields stoked fears of higher inflation.

Looking at major national indexes, Britain’s FTSE 100 dropped 0.34% to 10,249.52, Italy’s FTSE MIB 30 decreased 0.29% to 44,024.96, France’s CAC 40 slid 0.98% to 7,915.36, and Germany’s DAX 40 fell 0.77% to 23,409.37.

In currency markets, the euro fell 0.31% against the US dollar, reaching 1.158.

French Economy Minister Roland Lescure stated that "the G7 is prepared to release emergency oil stockpiles if required."

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