Finance

European stocks hit one-week highs on Mideast ceasefire

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on June 24, 2025

3 min read

· Last updated: January 23, 2026

Add as preferred source on Google
European stocks hit one-week highs on Mideast ceasefire
Global Banking & Finance Awards 2026 — Call for Entries

(Reuters) -European shares climbed more than 1% on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, boosting investor sentiment and risk appetite across global

European Stocks Surge to Weekly Highs Amid Mideast Ceasefire

By Sukriti Gupta, Sanchayaita Roy and Pranav Kashyap

(Reuters) -European stocks soared on Tuesday, buoyed by a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, while a slump in oil prices dragged energy stocks lower.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 1.11%, hitting a one-week high during the session and notching its biggest single-day jump in over a month.

While most sectors basked in the rally, energy stocks lagged as oil prices tumbled 5%. The sharp drop came after Iran's token response signalled no imminent threat to the critical Strait of Hormuz shipping route.

Airlines and travel stocks soared, with the sector vaulting 4.3% - its biggest daily rise in more than 18 months - as hopes rose that the ceasefire would stick.

The optimism followed U.S. President Donald Trump's late-Monday announcement that Israel and Iran had agreed to halt hostilities, a deal he confirmed was "in effect", pressing both sides to honour the truce.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed that sentiment, vowing Tehran would stick to the deal unless provoked by Israel.

"There is political will and a desire for peace from all parties... If they can follow through, I think we will see a permanent ceasefire and we have to believe it can happen," said Nick Saunders, CEO of stock trading platform Webull UK.

Germany's DAX surged 1.6%, riding a dual wave of ceasefire relief and fresh economic stimulus after lawmakers approved record-setting investment plans for 2025 and 2026 to jump-start growth in Europe's economic powerhouse.

Other bourses also gained, with French and Spanish markets up more than 1% each, while Britain's was flat.

As the quarter winds down, the STOXX 600 is on track for a second straight quarterly gain, though the index is still set to close the month more than 1% lower.

With Middle East tensions easing, investor focus is shifting to the looming July 8 U.S. tariff-pause deadline, as the EU hustles to clinch trade deals with Washington. Progress has been slow, save for an agreement with London.

"As Middle East tensions de-escalate, the focus will return to more fundamental concerns for investors such as tariffs," said Chris Brigati, chief investment officer at SWBC.

Among other stocks, Carnival Corp jumped 11.8% after the cruise operator raised its annual profit forecast.

Alstom gained 7.7% after the French train maker signed a 1.7 billion euro ($1.96 billion) contract to supply 96 additional new-generation trainsets for a line in France.

(Reporting by Sukriti Gupta, Sanchayaita Roy and Pranav Kashyap in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips, Mrigank Dhaniwala and Jan Harvey)

Key Takeaways

  • European stocks rise due to Mideast ceasefire.
  • STOXX 600 index sees biggest jump in over a month.
  • Oil prices drop, affecting energy stocks negatively.
  • Airlines and travel stocks experience significant gains.
  • Focus shifts to US tariff-pause deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions

What caused European stocks to rise?
European stocks rose due to a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, which boosted investor confidence.
How did oil prices affect the market?
Oil prices tumbled 5%, which negatively impacted energy stocks despite gains in other sectors.
Which sector saw the biggest gains?
The airlines and travel sector surged 4.3%, marking its largest daily increase in over 18 months.
What is the outlook for the STOXX 600 index?
The STOXX 600 index is on track for a second consecutive quarterly gain, although it is expected to close the month over 1% lower.
What economic measures were approved in Germany?
Germany's lawmakers approved record-setting investment plans for 2025 and 2026 aimed at jump-starting growth in the economy.

Tags

Related Articles

More from Finance

Explore more articles in the Finance category