FX.co ★ European Stocks Decline

European equities retreated on Wednesday, with the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 each losing 0.8%, partially reversing the strong gains of the previous session, when they rose 2.7% and 1.9% respectively. Ongoing tensions with Iran showed no sign of abating, while mixed messages from the US administration added to investor uncertainty. President Donald Trump adopted a more confrontational stance, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated yesterday that it “will be our most intense day of strikes.” Oil prices resumed their upward trajectory following steep declines on Tuesday. Financials, industrials, and technology stocks led the market lower.