17.03.202612:05:35UTC+00European Stocks Attempt to Rise for 2nd Day

The STOXX 50 rose 0.3% and the STOXX 600 gained 0.5% by early afternoon on Tuesday, rebounding from a muted start and extending the previous session’s modest advance, even as tensions with Iran intensified. Markets remained cautious amid uncertainty over the formation of an international coalition, with several countries appearing reluctant to support US President Donald Trump’s proposal.

Geopolitical risks escalated as Iran increased its attacks on energy infrastructure across the Persian Gulf, while Israel reported it had killed Iran’s security chief, further stoking regional tensions. In response, oil prices climbed again.

Utilities and energy shares led the gains, with financials also trading higher. E.ON (+3.1%), Enel (+3.3%), Repsol (+2.8%), and Eni (+2.7%) all recorded strong advances. By contrast, defence stocks were among the weakest performers, including Rheinmetall (-1.9%) and Leonardo. Other notable decliners included Dassault Systèmes (-1.7%), ASML Holding (-1.1%), and LVMH (-1.2%).