European equity markets experienced a slight decline on Thursday, continuing the dip seen the previous day after achieving record highs earlier in the week. This retreat comes in the face of uncertainty regarding the European Central Bank's monetary policy direction this year and ongoing geopolitical tensions. The Eurozone's STOXX 50 index decreased by 0.3% to 5,903, while the broader STOXX 600 index across Europe fell by 0.2% to 604.
The technology sector, which had previously shown gains, saw a reduction, mirroring the weak performance of tech stocks in the United States. This downturn is attributed to persistent risks that past overinvestment may not yield the expected returns. Companies like ASML, Infineon, and Prosus recorded declines ranging from 4% to 2%. Conversely, banking stocks performed robustly, with BNP Paribas surging by 3.5%. Additionally, the defense sector continued to advance, driven by the assertive stance of the White House towards Greenland, with Leonardo, BAE Systems, and SAAB experiencing gains between 6% and 2%.
