European Stocks Fall on Tuesday
European stocks closed off their session lows on Tuesday, with the Stoxx 50 and the broader Stoxx 600 down by around 0.5% each. The UK and Spain underperformed, while German and French markets recorded smaller declines and Italy was little changed. Basic resources led the declines, falling nearly 2% as gold, silver and copper prices weakened amid uncertainty over US-Iran diplomacy. Retailers also lost over 1.5%, while oil and gas stocks fell nearly 1% as crude prices declined. Technology shares dropped around 0.9%, with SAP down about 2% and ASML also lower. Inditex and Banco Santander declined, while L’Oréal and Linde posted smaller losses. On the other hand, Bayer surged more than 4.5% after raising its 2026 profit outlook, and Philips gained almost 5% after beating profit estimates. LVMH also advanced 2%. Investors remained cautious ahead of the US midterm elections, which could determine control of Congress and influence the country’s political direction.
European stocks closed off their session lows on Tuesday, with the Stoxx 50 and the broader Stoxx 600 down by around 0.5% each. The UK and Spain underperformed, while German and French markets recorded smaller declines and Italy was little changed. Basic resources led the declines, falling nearly 2% as gold, silver and copper prices weakened amid uncertainty over US-Iran diplomacy. Retailers also lost over 1.5%, while oil and gas stocks fell nearly 1% as crude prices declined.
Technology shares dropped around 0.9%, with SAP down about 2% and ASML also lower. Inditex and Banco Santander declined, while L’Oréal and Linde posted smaller losses. On the other hand, Bayer surged more than 4.5% after raising its 2026 profit outlook, and Philips gained almost 5% after beating profit estimates. LVMH also advanced 2%.
Investors remained cautious ahead of the US midterm elections, which could determine control of Congress and influence the country’s political direction.