European stocks advanced on Wednesday, with the STOXX 50 up 0.9% and the STOXX 600 gaining 0.4%, extending their rally to a third consecutive session. Investors stayed focused on this week’s key monetary policy decisions, particularly the Federal Reserve’s announcement due later in the day. Sentiment was further supported by renewed optimism around artificial intelligence and a pullback in oil prices.
On the commodities front, Iraq reached an agreement to resume exports through Turkey’s Ceyhan port, easing fears of supply disruptions related to the conflict with Iran. At the same time, the US intensified diplomatic efforts to secure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
In equity markets, Nvidia’s CEO drew attention to OpenClaw, a rapidly developing AI initiative described as a major step forward in how humans interact with artificial intelligence. Technology, financials, and industrials led sector gains, with ASML Holdings climbing 2.5% and HSBC rising 1.2%.
