European stock markets returned to negative territory, weighed down by geopolitical tensions following the seizure of an Iranian vessel by the United States in the Gulf of Oman over the weekend. Expectations of a ceasefire have already been undermined, although new rounds of talks are scheduled to take place in Pakistan today.
In detail, the STOXX Europe 600 stands at 620.24 points, down 1.01%, indicating broad weakness across the continent’s markets. In Germany, the DAX recorded a sharper decline (-1.32%) to 24,376.06 points, highlighting significant pressure on German equities. The FTSE 100 in the United Kingdom also fell by 0.57%, while in France the CAC 40 lost 1.12%. In Italy, the FTSE MIB declined by 1.18% to 48,290.37 points. Overall, the market sentiment remains negative across major European exchanges, with widespread selling and a clear downward trend.
On the commodities side, geopolitical tensions are strongly supporting the energy sector. Brent Crude rose to $95.87 per barrel (+6.07%), while WTI Crude Oil (May contract) posted an even stronger gain of +6.51% at $89.31, reflecting a sharp increase in oil prices. Natural Gas also increased, albeit more modestly (+1.68%) to 2.719, indicating stable but less dynamic demand compared to crude oil. Finally, RBOB Gasoline rose by 3.89% to 3.122, reflecting higher refined fuel prices. Overall, the energy sector shows strong upward momentum, driven by supply concerns and geopolitical uncertainty.