European stock markets opened the first week of May in moderately positive territory, amid a climate of caution driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions. Investors remain focused on the Middle East situation, with the Strait of Hormuz reportedly remaining closed, adding uncertainty to energy supply flows.
The main pan-European index Stoxx 600 rose by 0.1% shortly after 8:00 a.m. in London. In France, the CAC 40 fell by around 0.1%, while Germany’s DAX gained 0.1%. Italy outperformed with the FTSE MIB up 0.4%, while the FTSE 100 remained closed for the early spring bank holiday.Overall, European equities showed a mixed but slightly positive tone, with Italy standing out among major markets. The limited movements reflect a cautious investor sentiment, shaped by both the UK market closure and an uncertain macroeconomic backdrop.
Energy commodities, however, dominated the session with strong gains, reflecting heightened geopolitical risk. Brent crude oil climbed to $110.78 per barrel, up 2.41%, supported by robust trading volumes. WTI crude oil rose to $104.21, gaining 2.23%, confirming a broadly bullish trend across oil markets. Natural gas posted an even stronger percentage increase of 2.59% to 2.852, suggesting sustained demand pressures or supply-side constraints. Overall, the data points to a broad-based strengthening in energy prices.