Live Markets: Oil drop props up the STOXX, travel at 3-week high

Equinor ASA

26/08/2026 10:10

STOXX 600 up 0.1%
Oil falls on Iran hopes
U.S. inflation data awaited
Nvidia due after Wall St close
Nasdaq futures down 0.2%
Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at markets.research@thomsonreuters.com


OIL DROP PROPS UP THE STOXX, TRAVEL AT 3-WEEK HIGH
Encouraging news on diplomatic efforts in the Middle East lent support to global markets on Wednesday, helping European shares edge higher even as falling crude prices weighed on heavyweight energy stocks and capped gains.
The STOXX 600 .STOXX rose 0.1%, while the FTSE 100 .FTSE was little changed. 
Oil and gas stocks .SXEP led sectoral decliners, down more than 1%, with BP BP.L, Equinor EQNR.OL, Eni ENI.MI and TotalEnergies TTEF.PA falling between 1% and 2.5% with Brent prices holding below $87, set an over 8% weekly drop, their biggest in two months.
Technology .SX8P was dragged lower by a pullback in software, IT and data firms following a summer rally, while chipmakers traded mixed ahead of Nvidia's results due after the U.S. close. Software heavyweight SAP SAPG.DE fell 4% after UBS downgraded the stock to "neutral", citing a slower-than-expected rollout of agentic AI.
Miners .SXPP climbed, helped by a surge this week in gold prices, while lower oil prices helped lift travel and leisure stocks .SXTP to three-week highs. Budget airline Ryanair RYA.I gained 2%.

(Danilo Masoni)
*****

EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS:
BEFORE THE BELL: EUROPE STEADIES AS MARKETS AWAIT NVIDIA TEST CLICK HERE
MARKETS ARE WAITING '9 TO 5' CLICK HERE