European equities opened largely flat on Monday as investors digested a mixed set of corporate earnings and monitored trade negotiations between the United States and the European Union ahead of an August 1 tariff deadline.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index was down 0.01% at 546.97.
France’s CAC 40 and Germany’s DAX edged up around 0.1%, while auto stocks underperformed, falling 0.6%.
The FTSE 100 edged slightly higher at around 0.12% in early trading.
Stellantis slipped 2.4% after the automaker flagged a projected net loss of €2.3 billion for the first half of the year, citing pre-tax charges and early impact from US tariffs.
Meanwhile, Ryanair jumped 5.8% after reporting a more-than-twofold increase in net profit for the April–June quarter.
On the trade front, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Sunday that Washington was optimistic about reaching a deal with the EU, but reaffirmed that August 1 remains the final deadline before tariffs are imposed.
Separately, China’s foreign ministry confirmed that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday.
Asian stocks remain steady
Asian equities advanced on Monday as investors weighed geopolitical tensions, steady policy cues from China, and political developments in Japan.
The region entered a week packed with corporate earnings, US housing data, and speeches from central bank officials.
Chinese stocks edged higher after the People’s Bank of China kept its benchmark lending rates steady, in line with expectations.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index climbed 0.6% to 24,963.07 by mid-morning, poised for its highest close since January 21, 2022.
Japan’s markets were shut for the day, following elections in which the ruling coalition lost its upper house majority, injecting a fresh layer of political uncertainty.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s Kospi rose nearly 0.5%, buoyed by gains in heavyweight tech stocks.
US stocks on Friday
US stocks ended Friday on a subdued note, with major indices lacking clear direction amid choppy trading.
The Nasdaq Composite inched up 10.01 points, or 0.1%, to close at a record 20,895.66, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.57 points to 6,296.79.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 142.30 points, or 0.3%, finishing at 44,342.19.
Gains earlier in the session, driven by upbeat economic data from Thursday, were short-lived as investors locked in profits following intraday highs in both the Nasdaq and S&P 500.
Despite Friday’s flat close, the Nasdaq rose 1.5% for the week, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.6%. The Dow, however, dipped 0.1% over the same period.
Traders remain cautious as markets weigh the implications of President Trump’s trade actions amid broader optimism around US economic resilience.
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