Live Markets: Half-time in Europe: uncertainty reigns supreme

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23/04/2026 12:15

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STOXX 600 down 0.3%

Travel and leisure stocks lead declines

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HALF-TIME IN EUROPE: UNCERTAINTY REIGNS SUPREME

European shares were mostly in negative territory at the half-way point of their trading day as investors faced major Iran war uncertainty and waited for any new developments in the conflict.

Iran showed off its tightened grip over the Strait of Hormuz, and peace talks hung in the balance.

The STOXX 600 .STOXX was last down 0.34% after hovering near the flatline earlier in the day. It was on track for its fourth consecutive day of losses.

The FTSE 100 .FTSE shed 0.73% and the DAX .GDAXI fell 0.35%, while the CAC .FCHI was last 0.2% higher, boosted by L'Oreal, OREP.PA whose shares rose 8% after its results.

As oil prices continued to track higher, Europe's travel and leisure sector .SXTP still led losses, down around 1.5%.

Flash composite PMI data meanwhile did not bring particularly promising news about the economic impact of the Iran war. The headline reading fell into contraction territory in the euro zone in April, while rising in the UK - but looking at the details, the share of British companies reporting rising costs surged by a record amount.

(Sophie Kiderlin)

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EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS

 FRANCE BETTER PLACED TO WEATHER ENERGY SHOCK THAN NEIGHBOURS CLICK HERE

MARKETS MUTED AS IRAN WORRIES PERSIST CLICK HERE

EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: NERVOUS MARKETS CLICK HERE

HOW MUCH RISK CAN MARKETS SWALLOW? CLICK HERE