Mar 25 ,2026
Synopsis:
European equity markets ended broadly higher with most regional indices seeing gains of over 1%. Oil lower with WTI Crude (2.3%) to $90.22 and Brent (3.4%) to $96.82. Risk on sentiment attributed to signs of movement towards diplomatic outcome to Iran conflict. Press sources noted US presented Tehran with 15-point plan to end conflict, including one-month ceasefire, and addressing nuclear and missile programs. Yet, Iran said truce talks not viable in current condition. Situation remains fluid. Yet, oil seeing further reprieve after Iran said foreign ships not involved in war allowed to transit Strait of Hormuz. Debate is whether conflict is finally on a credible de-escalation path or if recent stabilization is more reflective of the extent of the concerns surrounding longer duration scenarios.
On the macro data front, German Ifo dropped in March amid the Iran war, while Swiss ZEW sentiment fell sharply similar to recent German reading. UK headline CPI unchanged at 3.0% y/y, but core unexpected edged up to 3.2%. inflation update reflects conditions prior to Iran war and forecast to accelerate rapidly in the coming months amid the jump in energy prices. ECB President Lagarde said ready to increase rates at any meeting in comments at ECB Watchers Conference. Kazaks also highlighted early rate move could be warranted if inflation become more widespread. BoE MPC member Greene said UK economy different compared with 2022.
On the corporate front, cyclicals saw most of the upside today, particularly Basic Resources as industrial metals like copper rebounded on improved China demand signals and easing geopolitical risk premium. Gold also up 3.6%.Chemicals outperformed, led by Lanxess (LXS.GR) on JPMorgan rating upgrade-driven optimism around pricing power and early-cycle demand recovery. Telecom pressured by stock-specific news, including INWIT (INW.IM) on contract termination developments.
Digest:
Sectors - STOXX Europe 600:
Outperformers:
Basic Resources +2.20%, Financial Svcs +1.77%, Health Care +1.76%, Construct & Mtls +1.63%, Banks +1.62%, Utilities +1.59%, Chemicals +1.53%, Ind Goods & Svcs +1.52%
Underperformers:
Media +0.37%, Telecom +0.38%, Persnl & HHold Goods +0.47%, Food & Beverage +0.69%, Autos & Parts +0.85%, Real Estate +0.88%, Oil & Gas +1.03%, Retail +1.09%, Insurance +1.13%, Travel & Leisure +1.18%, Technology +1.20%
Macro:
Central banks
ECB ready to hike rates even if expected inflation surge is short-lived, Lagarde says (CNBC)
ECB's Lane flags selling prices and wages as key indicators (Reuters)
Why the Bank of England will not raise rates this year (FT)
Bank of England's Greene says she was not close to raising rates this month (Reuters)
ECB still set to hold interest rates through 2026, most economists say (Reuters poll )
Geopolitics
Trump officials are working to meet in Pakistan to discuss an off-ramp to the Iran war, sources tell CNN
Iran rejects US proposal, lays out five conditions for ending imposed war: Source to Press TV
UK
Farage's Reform UK drops pledge to nationalise water and energy companies (FT )
Denmark
Danish PM Frederiksen resigns and coalition talks begin following close election (Guardian)
Germany
Klingbeil presents reform plan (Handelsblatt)
Italy
Italy's GDP to rise 0.5% in 2026 if war ends this month - Confindustria (ANSA)
Company news:
Notable Gainers
+17.1% LXS.GR (Lanxess €16.29, +2.39) -- JPMorgan upgrade
+15.6% QTX.LN (Quartix Technologies £2.45, +0.33) -- FY earnings
+15.6% ASC.LN (Asos £2.45, +0.33) -- pre-close trading update
+13.9% GENO.SS (Genovis SEK18.40, +2.24) -- global non-exclusive EndoS2 license deal
+13.9% SVIK.SS (Studsvik SEK337.00, +41.00) -- sign MoU with Rolls Royce to support SMR programme
+13.5% JEN.GR (Jenoptik €29.02, +3.46) -- final FY earnings; new CEO
+13.2% SF.SS (Stillfront Group SEK3.95, +0.46)
+10.2% CRST.LN (Crest Nicholson Holdings £1.11, +0.10) -- AGM trading update
+8.5% EKI.FP (Ekinops €1.80, +0.14)
+8.4% LUCE.LN (Luceco £1.73, +0.13) -- FY earnings
+7.9% VLX.LN (Volex £4.69, +0.35) -- raises FY26 guidance
+7.5% 2GB.GR (2G Energy €34.95, +2.45) -- prelim. FY earnings
+7.4% ORON.SW (ORIOR CHF10.80, +0.74) -- FY earnings
+7.1% DOCM.SW (DocMorris CHF4.26, +0.28) -- holder CEPD N.V. proposes to the AGM major renewal of board
+6.7% IGR.LN (IG Design Group £0.56, +0.04) -- completes surplus UK warehouse sale
+6.5% VBK.GR (Verbio €42.86, +2.62) -- increased FY guidance
+6.1% NANO.FP (Nanobiotix €26.95, +1.55) -- Johnson & Johnson looking at Nanobiotix - La Lettre
+6.1% NANO.FP (Nanobiotix €26.95, +1.55) -- states that, to the best of its knowledge, there is no such intention to acquire control of the company
+6.0% TTG.LN (TT Electronics £1.10, +0.06) -- FY earnings
+5.9% MAIRE.IM (MAIRE €13.39, +0.75) -- Kepler Cheuvreux upgrade
+4.6% SRAIL.SW (Stadler Rail CHF20.12, +0.89) -- UBS upgrade
+4.5% JLP.LN (Jubilee Metals Group £0.03, -0.00) -- Molefe Mine Phase 1 drilling results
+3.9% ROCK.B.DC (Rockwool DKK178.82, +6.76) -- initiated sector perform at RBC Capital Markets
+3.8% PRX.NA (Prosus €41.21, +1.52) -- Morgan Stanley upgrade
+3.7% SIGN.SW (SIG Combibloc Group CHF11.97, +0.43) -- UBS upgrade
+3.4% JDG.LN (Judges Scientific £42.60, +1.40)
+3.4% SLP.LN (Sylvania Platinum £0.92, +0.03)
+3.4% CRDA.LN (Croda International £28.38, +0.94) -- Morgan Stanley upgrade
+3.4% KRX.ID (Kingspan Group €72.90, +2.40) -- initiated outperform at RBC Capital Markets
+3.3% DBV.FP (DBV Technologies €3.46, +0.11) -- joins CAC Mid 60 and SBF 120 indices
+2.7% CAST.SS (Castellum AB SEK106.40, +2.75) -- initiates new share buy-back program
+2.3% NSIS.B.DC (Novonesis DKK366.80, +8.40) -- Citi upgrade
+2.2% VAHN.SW (Vaudoise Assurances Holding CHF787.00, +17.00) -- FY earnings
+1.8% MAS.NO (Måsøval NOK23.00, +0.40) -- CEO change / major shareholder - Heimstø AS - initiates strategic review of ownership
+1.7% VTU.LN (Vertu Motors £0.58, +0.01)
+1.4% FING.B.SS (Fingerprint Cards SEK14.70, +0.20) -- first company to pass EMVCo's new biometric assessment for payments
+1.3% RYA.ID (Ryanair Holdings €24.88, +0.33) -- Panmure Liberum upgrade
+0.9% HICL.LN (HICL Infrastructure £1.15, +0.01) -- sells it's 24.0% stake in the A63 Motorway in France
+0.9% NWG.LN (NatWest Group £5.39, +0.05) -- confirms sale of Mentor; price not disclosedx
Notable Decliners
-21.4% CAU.LN (Centaur Media £0.32, -0.09) -- result of tender offer
-8.8% KMR.LN (Kenmare Resources £2.03, -0.20) -- FY earnings
-7.7% PINE.LN (Pinewood Technologies Group £2.17, -0.18) -- business update
-6.0% HEAD.LN (Headlam Group £0.42, -0.03) -- FY earnings
-5.2% ENQ.LN (EnQuest £0.18, -0.01) -- FY earnings
-4.8% RS1.LN (RS Group plc £5.59, -0.28) -- pre-close trading update
-4.6% INW.IM (Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane €6.55, -0.32) -- Fastweb + Vodafone terminates MSA
-4.5% DFDS.DC (DFDS DKK100.30, -4.70) -- CEO steps down
-4.5% APTD.LN (Aptitude Software Group £2.10, -0.10)
-4.1% EKTA.B.SS (Elekta SEK54.40, -2.35) -- Danske Bank downgrade
-3.8% ALCJ.FP (Crossject €1.96, -0.08) -- FY earnings
-0.9% BMS.LN (Braemar £2.22, -0.02) -- FY trading udpatex
EU companies reporting tomorrow:
Earnings:
Austria: CA Immobilien Anlagen (CAI.AV), PORR (POS.AV)
Benelux: Exmar NV (EXM.BB), Hyloris Pharmaceuticals (HYL.BB)
France: Innate Pharma (IPH.FP), Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies (ALHGR.FP)
Germany: Hapag-Lloyd (HLAG.GR), Porsche Automobil Holding (PAH3.GR), Delivery Hero (DHER.GR), Hamburger Hafen und Logistik (HHFA.GR), Deutz (DEZ.GR), Kontron (KTN.GR), Wacker Neuson (WAC.GR), KSB (KSB.GR), ProSiebenSat.1 Media (PSM.GR), JOST Werke (JST.GR), Rhoen-Klinikum (RHK.GR), CEWE Stiftung & Co (CWC.GR), Washtec (WSU.GR), PNE (PNE3.GR), SNP Schneider-Neureither & Partner (SHF.GR), Medios (ILM1.GR), IVU Traffic Technologies (IVU.GR), Westwing Group (WEW.GR), Elringklinger (ZIL2.GR), SFC Energy (F3C.GR), LPKF Laser & Electronics (LPK.GR), Heidelberg Pharma (HPHA.GR), Bike24 Holding (BIKE.GR), EDAG Engineering Group (ED4.GR), Pentixapharm Holding (PTP.GR), Mister Spex (MRX.GR), Pentixapharm Holding (PTP.GR), TAKKT (TTK.GR), Bertelsmann
Nordics: H&M Hennes & Mauritz (HM.B.SS), Vantage Drilling International Ltd. (VDI.NO), BioPorto (BIOPOR.DC)
Southern Europe: TERNA Rete Elettrica Nazionale (TRN.IM)
Switzerland: Gam Holding (GAM.SW)
UK: Next (NXT.LN), International Public Partnerships (INPP.LN), Serica Energy (SQZ.LN), OXB (OXB.LN), Ceres Power Holdings (CWR.LN), Mears Group (MER.LN), Capricorn Energy (CNE.LN), Arbuthnot Banking Group (ARBB.LN), Tribal Group (TRB.LN)
Trading Update:
Other: Pepco Group (PCO.PW)
CMD/Events: Washtec (WSU.GR), Hexagon (HEXA.B.SS) and spin-off Octave Intelligence investor Day, Ashtead Group (AHT.LN), 3i Group (III.LN)
Data:
Economics:
Germany Mar IFO Business climate 86.4 vs consensus 86.2 and prior revised to 88.4 from 88.6
Current Conditions 86.7 vs consensus 86.0 and prior 86.7
Expectations 86.0 vs consensus 86.0 and prior revised to 90.2 from 90.5
UK Feb CPI +3.0% y/y vs consensus +3.0% and prior +3.0%
Switzerland Mar ZEW Expectations (35.0) vs consensus 3.5 and prior 9.8
Spain Feb PPI (7.0%) y/y vs consensus (2.9%) and prior revised (2.8%) from (2.9%)
Denmark Feb Retail Sales +2.2% y/y vs consensus +3.2% and prior +3.8%
Sweden Feb PPI (1.7%) y/y vs consensus (1.7%) and prior (2.0%)
Markets:
WTI Crude (May 26): ($2.59) or (2.80%) to $89.76
€-$ (0.0036) or (0.31%) to 1.1572
£-$ (0.0031) or (0.23%) to 1.3379
€-£ (0.0006) to 0.8649
S&P 500 +0.78%
Performance year-to-date
FTSE 100: +1.77%
DAX: (6.26%)
CAC: (3.72%)
MIB: (2.07%)
Stoxx 600: (0.79%)
This information and data is provided for general informational purposes only. The Bank of New York Mellon and our information suppliers do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy, timeliness or completeness of this information or data. We provide no advice nor recommendation or endorsement with respect to any company or securities. We do not undertake any obligation to update or amend this information or data. Nothing herein shall be deemed to constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities.
Please refer to "Terms Of Use".
DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS:
NOT FDIC, STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCY INSURED
MAY LOSE VALUE
NO BANK, STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCY GUARANTEE