2026.02.0217:16:20UTC+00European Stocks Close Sharply Higher

European stocks experienced a significant upswing on Tuesday, riding the wave of positive momentum in global markets despite the initial risk aversion earlier in the day. This shift comes as markets continue to evaluate earnings prospects within the Eurozone. The STOXX 50 index surged by 1% to close at 6,007, while the broader STOXX 600 also climbed 1% to finish at 617. Initially, investors steered clear of European stocks following a historic drop in precious metals that led to increased margin requirements across major derivative exchanges. However, stocks across various sectors saw a resurgence as no acute liquidity problems were reported.

Leading the banking sector, Santander, UniCredit, ING, and Nordea posted gains ranging from 2% to 3%. SAP saw a notable increase of 3.5%, continuing its recovery from a previous earnings-related decline. Meanwhile, Intesa Sanpaolo posted a modest increase of 0.2% amid its earnings release. Conversely, Rheinmetall fell by 3%, highlighting ongoing volatility within the European defense sector.