02.04.2026 00:16
Following U.S. President Donald Trump's messages that attacks on Iran could come to an end soon, a partial recovery was observed in the markets. The price of Brent crude oil tested below $100 per barrel for the first time.
European stock markets completed the third trading day of the week with an increase after U.S. President Donald Trump's messages suggesting that U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran could end soon.
TRUMP'S STATEMENTS BENEFITED THE MARKETS
Risk appetite in global markets increased with Trump's statements that "it could be possible to exit Iran in two to three weeks." The expectation that tensions in the Middle East would decrease brought a rapid recovery in European indices, which lost about 10% in value due to war and energy costs in March.
At the close, the benchmark index Stoxx Europe 600 rose by 2.5% to 597.69 points.
In the UK, the FTSE 100 index increased by 1.85% to 10,364.79, in Germany, the DAX 40 index gained 2.73% to 23,298.89, in France, the CAC 40 index rose by 2.10% to 7,981.27, and in Italy, the FTSE MIB 30 index closed up 3.17% at 45,714.95 points. The euro/dollar exchange rate rose by 0.22% to 1.158 as of 20:54 GMT.
OIL TESTED BELOW 100 DOLLARS
Following Trump's statements, the price of Brent crude oil tested the psychological barrier of 100 dollars for the first time since the start of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran. In the evening hours, oil prices stabilized around 101 dollars with a 2.66% decline, strengthening expectations that global inflation pressures would ease.
With the decline in oil prices, shares of energy companies such as BP, Shell, and Total lost value. In contrast, shares of German utility companies RWE and Eon, which have low dependence on oil, performed positively. Siemens Energy shares, on the other hand, finished the day with an almost 10% gain due to new orders.
On the economic data front, the Eurozone manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 51.6 points in March, confirming signals of recovery in economic activity.
Analysts noted that markets are focused on Trump's address to the nation scheduled for April 2, Thursday, at 04:00 GMT, warning that risks to energy supply would not be completely eliminated if the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz continues.