European equity markets were poised to open sharply lower on Monday as oil and gas prices climbed again following a renewed escalation in US–Iran tensions over the weekend. The United States seized an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman, while Tehran backtracked on plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and announced it would not participate in a second round of negotiations.
The prospect of prolonged disruption in this critical shipping corridor has unleashed an unprecedented energy supply shock, intensifying inflationary pressures and threatening global growth, with energy-importing European economies particularly vulnerable. Against this backdrop, Monday’s European calendar is relatively light, with no major economic data releases or corporate earnings reports scheduled. In premarket trade, Euro Stoxx 50 futures were down 1.4%, while Stoxx 600 futures declined 1%.
