European Shares Slip, End 8‑Month Gains
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- STOXX 600 was up 0.2% at 581.92 points by 0708 GMT, yet is on track to break an eight‑month gain streak and log its first quarterly decline in five.
- Financial services stocks rose 0.8%, leading sector gains.
- Donald Trump told aides he is willing to end the military campaign against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz stays largely closed, per The Wall Street Journal.
- European equities entered March near record highs but fell sharply by month‑end as the US‑Israel‑Iran conflict disrupted oil supplies, lifting oil prices and weighing on growth and inflation expectations.
- Eurozone flash consumer prices data later today will be the first since the Gulf conflict began, and investors will use it to gauge the war’s impact on regional economies.
- Unilever rose 0.7% after announcing advanced talks to combine its food business with McCormick, a deal that would bring roughly $15.7 billion in cash.
Why it matters: Investors see a shift from a months‑long rally to a possible quarterly loss, hurting growth‑focused funds while financial services and consumer stocks like Unilever gain modestly; the upcoming eurozone inflation data could shape market sentiment amid heightened geopolitical risk for portfolio managers.
