European Stocks Close Flat Amid Rising Oil Prices and Inflation Worries
European stocks closed flat on Monday as rising oil prices following renewed U.S.-Iran tensions fueled inflation worries, offsetting stronger-than-expected euro zone economic data.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index ended at 649.9 points, with trading volumes thin due to a public holiday in the United States.
Energy shares gained 1.2%, tracking higher oil prices, as Brent crude futures hovered near six-week highs and moved closer to $100 a barrel.
The European Central Bank is widely expected to raise rates by 25 basis points on Thursday, with traders pricing in another increase by year-end and one more in 2027.
The AfD's historic Saxony-Anhalt victory has nudged the DAX lower, but investors see the result as a political warning rather than an immediate economic threat.