{"id":56387,"date":"2025-02-18T18:24:35","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T18:24:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/2025\/02\/18\/european-stocks-close-mostly-higher-5\/"},"modified":"2025-02-18T18:24:35","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T18:24:35","slug":"european-stocks-close-mostly-higher-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pantheregroup.com\/2025\/02\/18\/european-stocks-close-mostly-higher-5\/","title":{"rendered":"European Stocks Close Mostly Higher"},"content":{"rendered":"
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European stocks closed mostly higher on Tuesday and a few markets<\/span> settled at fresh record highs, as investors reacted to earnings updates, and continued to monitor the developments on the geopolitical front. <\/p>\n

The markets also digested the data showing a bigger than estimated increase in France’s consumer price inflation in the month of January, and data showing UK’s unemployment rate remained unchanged in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

Defense stocks attracted buyers once again amid prospects of increased military spending by European governments to support Ukraine.<\/p>\n

The focus was also on U.S. – Russia talks in Riyadh to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. Russia and the U.S. are expected to announce teams to negotiate a path to ending the war in Ukraine besides also ensuring the “earliest possible appointment” of ambassadors in both Moscow and Washington.<\/p>\n

“Russia and the United States will hold regular consultations on Ukraine after both sides appoint negotiating teams,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press briefing following talks with US officials in Riyadh.<\/p>\n

The pan European Stoxx 600 climbed 0.32%. Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 gained 0.2% and 0.21%, respectively, while the U.K.’s FTSE 100 edged down 0.01%. Switzerland’s SMI gained 0.15%.<\/p>\n

Among other markets in Europe, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Turkiye closed higher.<\/p>\n

Iceland, Netherlands and Russia ended flat.<\/p>\n

In the UK market, HSBC Holdings gained nearly 2%. GSK, Vodafone Group, Rolls-Royce Holdings, Natwest Group, Barclays Group, St. James’s Place and Standard Chartered climbed 1.2 to 1.7%. Glencore and Melrose Industries posted moderate gains.<\/p>\n

Antofagasta started off on a bright note, but suffered a mid session setback and finally closed with a modest gain. Antofagasta backed its FY25 outlook after reporting strong 2024 performance with 5% revenue growth and a widened EBITDA margin at 52%.<\/p>\n

Intercontinental Hotels Group ended down 4.7%. The global hospitality leader announced the acquisition of the Ruby brand from Ruby SARL for an initial purchase consideration of \u20ac110.5 million (approximately $116 million).<\/p>\n

Sainsbury (J), Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Airtel Africa, Mondi, Kingfisher, SSE and JD Sports Fashion lost 2 to 4%.<\/p>\n

BT Group closed nearly 3% down, as Citi has downgraded its rating on the shares to ‘sell’ from ‘buy’ and cut the price target.<\/p>\n

In the German market, Daimler Truck Holding climbed nearly 2%. Commerzbank gained 1.7%, while Continental, Deutsche Telekom, Deutsche Bank, Bayer, Deutsche Boerse, MTU Aero Engines and Mercedes-Benz advanced 1 to 1.3%.<\/p>\n

Zalando ended down 2.5%. Adidas, Sartorius, BASF, Puma, Henkel, Symrise, Rheinmetall, RWE, Vonovia, SAP and Fresenius closed lower by 0.5 to 1.5%.<\/p>\n

In the French market, Thales gained 2.5%, extending gains from previous session. Schneider Electric, Societe General and Legrand gained 2.2 to 2.5%. BNP Paribas climbed nearly 2%.<\/p>\n

Airbus, Credit Agricole, Vivendi, Vinci, Stellantis, LVMH, Teleperformance, Renault and Saint Gobain also closed on firm note.<\/p>\n

Capgemini tanked more than 10% after reporting a 2% drop in its annual constant currency rates.<\/p>\n

Edenred closed 4.7% down. The voucher company missed organic growth estimates for Q4. The company’s operating revenue growth came in at 4.6% in Q4, well below the expected 6.7% growth. <\/p>\n

Pernod Ricard, Kering, Accor, Carrefour and Veolia closed lower by 1 to 1.7%.<\/p>\n

Data from the Office for National Statistics showed the UK unemployment rate remained unchanged in the fourth quarter, with the jobless rate coming in a 4.4%, the same as in the preceding period. Economists had forecast the rate to rise to 4.5%.<\/p>\n

In the three months to December, average earnings excluding bonus grew at a pace of 5.9% annually, in line with expectations. At the same time, including bonus, earnings advanced 6% compared to economists’ forecast of 5.9%.<\/p>\n

Data showed that payroll employees for January increased 21,000 from the last month and increased by 49,000 from the previous year to 30.4 million. <\/p>\n

Data from the statistical office INSEE said the consumer price inflation in France climbed to 1.7% in January from 1.3% a month earlier. The latest inflation was revised upwards from the flash data reading of 1.4%.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, harmonized inflation held steady at 1.8%, as estimated. Moreover, inflation remained below the European Central Bank’s target of 2%.<\/p>\n

On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose at a stable rate of 0.2%, revised from a 0.1% fall estimated initially. Meanwhile, the harmonized index of consumer prices dropped 0.2% after a 0.2% gain in the previous month. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Market Analysis<\/p>\n<\/div>\n