Stoxx 600, FTSE, DAX, CAC, oil prices, Iran latest
A woman walks past models of Iranian missiles in Valiasr Square in Tehran on April 6, 2026.
Atta Kenare | Afp | Getty Images
LONDON — European stocks opened slightly higher on Thursday, following gains in Asian markets, as investors evaluated strong U.K. GDP data and awaited Eurozone inflation data for March.
Markets also continue to closely monitor the progress of peace negotiations between the United States and Iran.
Shortly after the opening bell, the pan-European Stoxx 600 index rose 0.25%, leaving the sectors looking mixed.
While miners and technology stocks led the rise, the telecommunications sector lagged behind the general index.
of england FTSE100 index and France CAC 40 Both opened by 0.2%, while Germany DAX increased by 0.13% and Italy’s FTSE MIB increased by 0.5%.
The UK economy beat expectations with growth of 0.5% in February, compared to forecasts of just 0.1%, according to official data published on Thursday.
However, the outbreak of the Iran war at the end of February looks set to derail Britain’s growth prospects. The war is also expected to have a significant impact on euro zone inflation data due to be released later in the day.
In corporate news, EasyJet’s shares fell on Thursday after it warned that the Iran war and high fuel prices were putting pressure on customer bookings.
The airline said it took on additional fuel costs of around £25 million ($34 million) in the first half due to the US-Iran war. He expects airline costs to remain driven by volatile fuel prices in the coming months.
Shares fell as much as 8.7%, before recouping losses with a 3.2% decline in recent trading.
U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview published Wednesday that the conflict is “very close to being over,” boosting market optimism that peace talks can continue and a solution can be found.
The United States and Iran have reached an “agreement in principle” to extend a fragile two-week ceasefire to allow for more diplomacy, The Associated Press reported Wednesday, citing regional officials.
However, a senior US official told CNBC that the US “has not formally agreed to an extension of the ceasefire.”
“There is ongoing interaction between the United States and Iran to reach an agreement,” added the official, who discussed the administration’s internal plans on condition of anonymity.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index hit a record overnight amid a broader rally in Asian markets, tracking gains on Wall Street on Wednesday as hopes for a US-Iran deal rose. U.S. stock futures were little changed Wednesday night after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite hit new records in the regular session.
The European data published on Thursday includes the latest UK GDP figures for February (at 7am London time) and final European inflation data for March. Flash data released earlier this month showed euro zone inflation rising from 1.9% in February to 2.5% in March. Earnings are coming crane, Tesco, Aker, Pernod Ricard And Rentokil Start.
