Live Markets: Europe before the bell: futures signal softer open as oil jumps

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23/07/2026 07:31

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EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: FUTURES SIGNAL SOFTER OPEN AS OIL JUMPS
European stock futures are signalling a softer open on Thursday as crude oil prices have jumped again, while Alphabet's spending plans also kept investors wary. 
The Google GOOGL.O parent said its capex plans were between $195 billion and $205 billion this year, a $15 billion increase from the prior quarter. 
Some investors are concerned about big-tech's unprecedented spending plans before there is obvious evidence that their returns will justify their investment. 
Meanwhile, Brent crude has jumped to a more than six-week high after the Iranian-aligned Houthis said on Thursday they struck two Saudi oil tankers as part of a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, threatening to create a second chokepoint on global oil supplies.
That's weighing on risk sentiment in Europe on Thursday. Euro STOXX 50 futures STXEc1 are down 0.3%. Futures on the DAX FDXc1, CAC FCEc1 and FTSE FFIc1 are down between 0.2% and 0.4%. 
It's been another busy earnings day in Europe with BNP Paribas BNPP.PA, UniCredit CRDI.MI, Nokia NOKIA.HE, Renault RENA.PA, STMicro STMPA.PA, BT BT.L and TotalEnergies TTEF.PA among a number of companies to have released results before the open.  
(Samuel Indyk)
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