Live Markets: Steady start, sluggish week

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17/04/2026 09:05

Adds new blog entry

STOXX 600 little changed, up 0.3% this week

Luxury stocks rebound, miners weak

Alstom slumps after trading update

Wall St futures steady

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STEADY START, SLUGGISH WEEK

European stocks are flat to slightly higher on Friday, rounding off a week of underperformance compared to other global equity markets.

The STOXX 600 .STOXX is little changed on the day, meaning it is up about 0.3% on the week.

Major bourses elsewhere have performed markedly better on the prospects of a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran. The S&P 500 .SPX is up over 3% this week, while Asia-Pacific .MIAPJ0000PUS stocks have jumped 2.7%.

At pixel time, it is still unclear whether the U.S. and Iran will meet this weekend, but Trump has again expressed confidence that an agreement to end the war could be reached soon. The two-week ceasefire expires in the middle of next week.

Elsewhere, the DAX .GDAXI and CAC .FCHI are edging higher, while the FTSE .FTSE is a touch lower.

Alstom ALSO.PA is Europe's biggest faller, shedding over a quarter of its value, after the train maker pulled its cash flow target.

Here's your opening snapshot:

(Samuel Indyk)

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EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS:

EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: FUTURES SOFT CLICK HERE

MARKETS CATCH THEIR BREATH AS WEEKEND DIPLOMACY BECKONS CLICK HERE

How US markets have performed this year https://www.reuters.com/graphics/AUTOMATED-20260416/US-INDEX-COMPARISON-YTD/zjpqmodblpx/chart.png

European shares rise https://www.reuters.com/graphics/GLOBAL-STOCKS/znpnmnmkyvl/chart.png