Stoxx 600, FTSE, DAX, CAC, Iran latest
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable meeting on the administration’s “ratepayer protection pledge” in the Indian Treaty Room at the White House on March 4, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Win McNamee | Getty Images
LONDON — European stocks are set to open in mixed territory again on Thursday as market participants follow geopolitical developments in the Middle East.
The U.K.’s FTSE index is seen opening 0.5% higher, Germany’s DAX down 0.2%, France’s CAC 40 down 0.25% and Italy’s FTSE MIB 0.2% lower, according to data from IG.
Spain’s IBEX is expected to open 0.5% lower with the country in trouble with U.S. President Donald Trump after it refused to allow U.S. forces to use its bases for strikes on Iran. “Spain has been terrible,” Trump said on Tuesday. “We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain.”
Global market attention remains focused on the U.S. and Israel’s war on Iran, with attacks intensifying over the last 24 hours.
Israel on Wednesday launched a fresh round of attacks on Tehran, with the country’s defense minister vowing to “crush” the Iranian regime’s capabilities. Meanwhile, the U.S. said has destroyed 17 Iranian ships and nearly 2,000 targets.
Follow CNBC’s live blog on Iran here: War powers vote fails in the Senate, allowing Trump to continue Iran strikes
In Iran, senior clerics responsible for selecting the next supreme leader are considering naming Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to the top post, according to reports.
The U.S. and Israel’s endgame when it comes to “Operation Epic Fury” remains uncertain, and experts have told CNBC they could get bogged down in the war if the Iranian regime proves more resilient than expected.
Earnings come from Merck, DHL Group, Reckitt Benckiser, Galderma Group and Universal Music Group while data releases include the latest EU retail sales figures.
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