European equity markets were poised to open higher on Friday, clawing back losses from the previous session as oil prices retreated. The pullback in crude followed signals from the US government that it is considering intervening in energy markets to rein in the recent price surge. The US also granted India a 30‑day waiver to continue purchasing Russian oil, even as the conflict in the Middle East further constrains global energy supplies.
At the same time, the US‑Israeli offensive against Iran has entered its seventh day with no signs of de-escalation, while Tehran has launched a new wave of missile and drone attacks across the Gulf. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied reports that Iran had requested a ceasefire and indicated that Tehran remains unwilling to enter negotiations.
In Europe, investors will focus on a series of key data releases, including German factory orders, the UK house price index, and Eurozone GDP and employment figures. In premarket trading, futures on the Euro Stoxx 50 and Stoxx 600 were up 1% and 0.7%, respectively.
