European stock markets closed sharply lower on Friday, marking a fifth consecutive day of losses, as escalating geopolitical tensions following Israeli strikes on Iran drove investors toward safe-haven assets and away from riskier equities.
اضافة اعلان
Key Index Performance
Stoxx 600 (pan-European index): ▼ 0.98%, extending its losing streak to five sessions and setting the stage for weekly losses, according to CNBC.
DAX (Germany): ▼ 1.14% – the worst performer among major indexes.
CAC 40 (France): ▼ 1.4%
FTSE 100 (UK): ▼ 0.39%, retreating from recent record highs.
Sector Breakdown
Travel & Leisure: Led the sell-off with a drop of 2.6%, reflecting investor concerns over potential disruptions from geopolitical instability.
Energy Sector: The only gainer, supported by rising oil prices due to supply concerns from the Middle East.
Other sectors, including financials, industrials, and technology, closed broadly in the red.
Market Sentiment
Investors are responding to:
Rising geopolitical risks in the Middle East
A flight to quality, favoring gold, U.S. Treasuries, and the dollar
Fears of broader conflict spillover and its impact on energy supply chains and inflation
This defensive shift comes despite strong earnings reports from several European firms, suggesting that macroeconomic and geopolitical concerns are currently outweighing company fundamentals. European markets may continue to see volatility until clearer signals emerge regarding Middle East stability and central bank policies.
