European stock markets opened lower, as rising tensions in the Middle East and the US homeland blockade on Iranian shipments announced by President Donald Trump Trump are causing oil prices to soar. Brent rises by more than 3%, exceeding 85 dollars, after the 9,6% leap of the previous session also supported by the tycoon's announcement of a 20% tax on commercial traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Increases also on the price of the gas, which in Amsterdam moves in the area of 53 euros per megawatt hour (+3,2%).
Also weighing on the sentiment of the stock markets are the words of the Fed governor Christopher Waller, according to which there would be the possibility of further rate hikes if inflation were to remain above the 2% target. Words that come on the eve of the publication of the CPI data, which will be published in the early afternoon, and the testimony of the new Fed chairman Kevin Warsh to Congress. The hypothesis of higher rates continues to weigh especially on the technology sector, already under pressure due to investors' doubts about its valuations, which are considered very stretched after the strong rise fueled by the prospects linked to artificial intelligence. front corporateAnticipation is mounting for the second quarter earnings season: today it starts with the big US banks: JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and Wells Fargo will lift the veil on their accounts.
In this context, the stock markets of the old continent are all travelling in the red, with Madrid which marks the worst performance and Amsterdam which is trying to resist as best it can. In the midst of the almost carbon copy declines Paris, Frankfurt and Milan. Asian stock markets closed slightly higher after a volatile session for semiconductor sector stocks. In Seoul, rebounds for Sk Hynix and Samsung after the defeats of the previous day.
A Business Square attention remains focused on the banking sector: in the sector Bper is the weakest title, followed by Banco Bpm, Fineco and Unicredit. Sales also in luxury and defense, with Cucinelli, Leonardo and Moncler in decline. Stmicroelectronics, After a downward start, it turns positive, also supported by the anticipation for the launch of Apple's new foldable smartphone. Oil stocks are rising, with Eni at the top of the FTSE MIB in the wake of rising oil prices. Also doing well A2a.
Outside the Ftse Mib Gens Aurea debuts on Euronext Milan, the first IPO of 2026 on the Italian Stock Exchange's main market. In the first minutes of trading, the stock is trading up a theoretical 6% to 10,6 euros.
Looking at other markets, on the currency the euro is stable at 1,139 dollars, while among precious metals, the price of'gold. On the rise it is spread between BTPs and Bunds, which rose to 80 basis points (from 76) due to renewed tensions between Iran and the US. The yield on the benchmark 10-year BTP also increased, moving into first place at 3,93% from the previous benchmark's 3,86%.
