Live Markets: Utilities and industrials keep STOXX high
26/02/2026 09:28
Adds blog post STOXX 600 unchanged Heavy earnings day Nvidia tops estimates US-Iran nuclear talks to resume 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 UTILITIES AND INDUSTRIALS KEEP STOXX HIGH European shares hovered near record levels on Thursday, as strength in utilities and industrials, which have been boosted by a run of well‑received earnings and M&A activity, helped offset a pullback in materials following recent gains. The region‑wide STOXX 600 .STOXX was last flat after nudging up briefly to a fresh peak. Indices in London and Paris also hit new highs. The FTSE 100 .FTSE gained 0.2%, lifted by sharp rises in Howden Joinery HWDN.L, LSEG LSEG.L and Rolls‑Royce RR.L — all up more than 4% after results. Hikma HIK.L slumped 16% after a weak sales outlook. A jump in Engie ENGIE.PA after it agreed to buy electricity distributor UK Power Networks, along with stronger‑than‑expected earnings from Schneider Electric SCHN.PA, lifted the CAC 40 .FCHI up 0.3%. (Danilo Masoni) ***** EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS: BEFORE THE BELL: EUROPEAN FUTURES STEADY, LOTS OF EARNINGS CLICK HERE NVIDIA DELIVERS, BUT GOOD NO LONGER CUTS IT CLICK HERE