LIVE MARKETS-STOXX 600 jumps, starts April on a high note
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STOXX 600 JUMPS, STARTS APRIL ON A HIGH NOTE
Optimism about the Iran war ending soon sent the STOXX 600 higher on Wednesday, with all but one major European sector trading in positive territory.
The pan-regional STOXX 600 .STOXX was last 2% higher, on track for its biggest daily rise in roughly a year, as the U.S. seems to be eyeing a swift end to the Iran war that has sent energy prices higher and fanned fears of higher inflation and slower growth.
Stock markets have come under pressure during the war, but Washington signalling potential for both direct talks with Tehran's leadership and a winding down of the conflict even without a deal caused a wave of optimism from investors.
Strikes however continued on the ground, and oil prices remained volatile. Brent crude futures LCOc1 were last down around 3.1%, but had been up earlier in the session.
Oil and gas stocks .SXEP were the only major European sector to fall Wednesday, last down 1.2%, while bank .SX7P and travel and leisure .SXTP stocks both rose more than 3%.
The FTSE .FTSE, CAC .FCHI and DAX .GDAXI were all well over 1% higher.
(Sophie Kiderlin)
EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS:
EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: FUTURES UP ON GROWING HOPES OF IRAN WAR ENDING SOON CLICK HERE
APRIL FOOLS RUSH IN CLICK HERE
