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LONDON – European stocks are expected to open higher on Thursday as the Iran war escalates following attacks on Iranian and Qatari energy infrastructure.
of the UK FTSE Germany’s index could be seen opening 09% lower DAX 1.6% lower, France CAC 40 1% and below Italy FTSE MIB 1.2% decrease according to data from IG.
A significant escalation in the conflict occurred on Wednesday when Israel launched an attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field, prompting Tehran to launch a retaliatory missile attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas terminal.
US President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that the US would “massively detonate the South Pars gas field” if Iran continues to target Qatar’s energy facilities. Oil prices jumped again overnight after the strikes and comments.
European market attention turns to central bank action in the region today, with monetary policy decisions from the European Central Bank, Bank of England, Riksbank and Swiss National Bank on Thursday.
Central banks are expected to hold rates steady across the board as policymakers wait and see where the war in Iran goes and assess its impact on the region’s growth and inflation outlook.
US stock futures were lower overnight after the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a 2026 low.
The drop came after a surprisingly hot producer prices report and higher inflation expectations from the Federal Reserve, as the war in Iran added to fears that the US economy is headed for a stagnation scenario—or a period of low growth and high price pressures. Asia-Pacific markets fell on Thursday, tracking losses on Wall Street.
Earnings will come EnelEquinor, BASF, Argenx And Vonovia.
— CNBC’s Sarah Min contributed to this market report.
(tags to translate)World Economy
