FX.co ★ European Stocks Close Slightly Lower

On Wednesday, European stock markets largely ended in the red, impacted by declines in technology, consumer defensive sectors, and mining companies. Investors remained concerned about global interest rate trends and geopolitical tensions. The Eurozone's STOXX 50 index fell by 0.2% to close at 5,378, and the broader STOXX 600 slipped just below neutral, ending at 552. The European Central Bank (ECB) is anticipated to maintain current borrowing rates in their upcoming announcement, but market participants are keenly awaiting updated economic forecasts and policy guidance. Geopolitical issues remained prominent as Israel targeted Hamas locations in Qatar, and Poland intercepted drones during a Russian offensive on Ukraine, highlighting regional security vulnerabilities. Despite positive financial forecasts from Oracle in the United States, technology stocks suffered, with SAP and Adyen both declining nearly 3%. Conversely, Inditex saw a notable gain, surging 6.5% following robust monthly sales figures.