Investment accounts
Adult accounts
Child accounts
Choosing Fidelity
Choosing Fidelity
Why invest with us Current offers Fees and charges Open an account Transfer investments
Financial advice & support
Fidelity’s Services
Fidelity’s Services
Financial advice Retirement Wealth Management Investor Centre (London) Bereavement
Guides
Guidance and tools
Shares
Share dealing
Choose your shares
Tools and information
Tools and information
Share prices and markets Chart and compare shares Stock market news Shareholder perks Stock plan guidance
Pensions & retirement
Pensions, tax & tools
Saving for retirement
Approaching / In retirement
Approaching / In retirement
Speak to a specialist Creating a retirement plan Taking tax-free cash Pension drawdown Annuities Investing in retirement Investment Pathways
Europe midday: Shares slump, oil rises as Trump Iran pause fails to reassure
(Sharecast News) - European shares extended losses on Friday as traders took a dim view of US President Donald Trump's latest pause on attacking Iran's energy infrastructure. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was down 1.12% to 574 at 1205 GMT. All major bourses fell, with Germany's DAX declining by 1.33%, Spain's Ibex 1.18%, France's CAC 40 0.84% and Italy's MIB 1%.
Oil prices remained elevated, with benchmark Brent crude jumping above $110 a barrel indicating that Trump's claim that ceasefire talks with Tehran were "going very well" wasn't resonating with the market.
Trump extended his deadline for Iran to open the strait of Hormuz by 10 days to April 6 April. Iran has denied Washington's insistence that it is "begging to make a deal", as the US president stated.
"Minutes after US stocks posted their worst day since the Middle East war, Trump was back on Truth Social extending his deadline for a peace deal. So far so Taco ... but markets ain't buying it with crude oil prices stubbornly higher and equity markets lower while the dollar and bond yields are elevated," said Saxo Markets analyst Neil Wilson.
"While this scales back the risk of immediate escalation, it does not indicate a clear path to resolution. Markets have largely shrugged it off with Brent back to $110, rising for a third day and European stock markets selling off again in early trade on Friday morning."
In equity news, shares in French spirits maker Pernod Ricard rose, having closed the previous session almost 6% lower, after it confirmed discussions on a possible merger with Jack Daniel's owner Brown-Forman.
Enagás surged after Spain's energy regulator proposed revenue reductions for the gas pipeline operator that were far smaller than feared.
Shares in Polish grocery chain Dino Polska fell sharply after the company's fourth-quarter earnings missed estimates.
Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com
Share this article
Related Sharecast Articles
Important information: This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice. When you are thinking about investing in shares, it’s generally a good idea to consider holding them alongside other investments in a diversified portfolio of assets. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.
Award-winning online share dealing
Search, compare and select from thousands of shares.
Expert insights into investing your money
Our team of experts explore the world of share dealing.
Policies and important information
Accessibility | Conflicts of interest statement | Consumer Duty Target Market | Consumer Duty Value Assessment Statement | Cookie policy | Diversity, Equity & Inclusion | Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Reports | Doing Business with Fidelity | Investing in Fidelity funds | Legal information | Modern slavery | Mutual respect policy | Privacy statement | Remuneration policy | Staying secure | Statutory and Regulatory disclosures | Whistleblowing programme
Please remember that past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance, the performance of investments is not guaranteed, and the value of your investments can go down as well as up, so you may get back less than you invest. When investments have particular tax features, these will depend on your personal circumstances and tax rules may change in the future. This website does not contain any personal recommendations for a particular course of action, service or product. You should regularly review your investment objectives and choices and, if you are unsure whether an investment is suitable for you, you should contact an authorised financial adviser. Before opening an account, please read the ‘Doing Business with Fidelity’ document which incorporates our client terms. Prior to investing into a fund, please read the relevant key information document which contains important information about the fund.
This website is issued by Financial Administration Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) (FCA Register number 122169) and registered in England and Wales under company number 1629709 whose registered address is Beech Gate, Millfield Lane, Lower Kingswood, Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 6RP.
