LIVE MARKETS-All European sectors added in May, but cyclicals outshone defensives

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ALL EUROPEAN SECTORS UP IN MAY, BUT CYCLICALS OUTSHONE DEFENSIVES

The STOXX 600 just wrapped up its best May performance since 2005, adding 4%, but how did things look on a sector basis?

Every sector ended the month flashing green, but some shone more that others. Cyclical sectors - which are typically more exposed to the ebb and flow of the economy - generally outperformed their more defensive counterparts, which would typically outperform as business activity slows.

Overall, a basket of European defensive stocks .MIEU0DE00PUS ticked just 0.6% higher while cyclicals .MIEU0CY00PUS added 5.4%.

The best sector performance for May was taken by aerospace and defence names .SXPARO, up 14.6%, closely followed by travel and leisure stocks .SXTP, up 10.8%.

Banks also stood out .SX7P up 8.25% in May, continuing the space's 2025 winning spree which has seen shares soar almost 30%.

On the flipside, healthcare stocks .SXDP barely stayed in positive territory, up a tiny 0.02% in May, while in second from last place were insurers .SXIP, up 0.45%.

Utilities .SX6P, food and beverages .SX3P and personal and household goods .SXQP also underperformed the broader market, while industrials .SXNP, tech .SX8P and basic resources .SXPP outperformed.

(Lucy Raitano)

EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS:

WEAK START FOR THE STOXX; DEFENCE, ENERGY UP CLICK HERE

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