European shares muted as investors weigh U.S.-Iran talks

Danone SA

22/06/2026 08:02

(For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets,
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    June 22 (Reuters) - European shares were muted at the open
on Monday as investors assessed the latest round of U.S.-Iran
negotiations for signs of progress toward resuming shipping
through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil
trade. 
Brent Crude prices declined 1.6%, and were trading below $80 per
barrel after mediators Qatar and Pakistan said that Washington
and Tehran had agreed on a roadmap for a final deal and measures
to safeguard shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran had
declared the waterway closed on Sunday, casting doubt on the
ceasefire's sustainability.
    The pan-European STOXX 600 index  .STOXX  edged 0.05% higher
to 635.92 points by 0711 GMT.
Tech stocks  .SX8P  led sectoral gains, rising 1.2%,
with chipmaker Infineon  IFXGn.DE  and semiconductor equipment
maker Aixtron  AIXGn.DE  gaining 4.5% and 2.3%, respectively,
tracking advances in Asian equities. 
In M&A activities, shares of budget airline easyJet  EZJ.L  rose
2.3% after U.S. investment firm Castlelake went public with a
£4.74 billion ($6.26 billion) offer.
Danone   DANO.PA  shares slipped 0.4% after the French food
giant said it will acquire Australian company MADE Group for an
undisclosed amount.
Among other movers, the UK's defence and engineering group
Babcock  BAB.L  dropped 3.3% following a sharp decline in its
annual profit on a £140 million frigate charge.
     
    ($1 = 0.7571 pounds)

(Reporting by Utkarsh Hathi and Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru;
Editing by Rashmi Aich)
((utkarshtushar.hathi@thomsonreuters.com))