European Stocks Steady as Traders Await Manufacturing Data; Oil Gains After OPEC+ Pause
European stocks traded cautiously on Monday, with investors awaiting key manufacturing activity data for fresh insight into the region’s economic health.
As of 03:02 ET (08:02 GMT), Germany’s DAX gained 0.1%, the U.K.’s FTSE 100 rose 0.2%, while France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.1%.
Investors Await Manufacturing Data
Market sentiment was slightly dampened early Monday after private data showed China’s manufacturing sector expanded less than expected in October, reflecting weaker global demand and a challenging economic outlook.
Despite slower growth, the data still indicated modest expansion—a contrast to the government’s PMI readings last week that showed contraction.
Attention now turns to manufacturing PMI reports from major European economies and the eurozone, which are due later in the day, followed by similar figures from the United States.
The European Central Bank (ECB) left interest rates unchanged last week for a third consecutive meeting, with policymakers stating that current policy is in a “good place.” The ECB’s final meeting of the year takes place in December, and many analysts expect the bank to hold rates steady well into 2026.
Elsewhere, Sweden’s Riksbank will announce its policy decision on Wednesday, while the Bank of England follows on Thursday.
European Markets Outperformed in October
According to Barclays, European equities outperformed U.S. markets in October, led by gains in the U.K., France, and Spain. The bank attributed the resilience to strong third-quarter earnings and renewed investor demand, despite global volatility.
Barclays noted that global equities “continued to climb the wall of worries,” hitting new highs last month. Concerns over U.S. credit defaults and renewed U.S.–China trade tensions briefly pushed volatility higher, but the pullback was short-lived.
The rebound was supported by “resilient Q3 earnings” and AI-driven optimism, which boosted investor confidence.
Corporate Highlights: Ryanair, PostNL, and Heineken
It was a relatively quiet session for earnings in Europe on Monday, but several key corporate updates stood out.
Ryanair (IR:RYA) reported a 42% increase in first-half profit, while warning that fare pressures and geopolitical risks could impact second-half results.
PostNL (AS:PTNL) posted a wider operating loss in the third quarter, as rising costs and declining mail volumes offset modest parcel growth.
Meanwhile, Heineken (AS:HEIN) unveiled a new 2030 roadmap, targeting €500 million in annual savings through a sharper focus on 17 key markets and a more streamlined brand portfolio.
Oil Prices Rise as OPEC+ Pauses Output Hikes
Crude oil prices rose on Monday after OPEC+ announced it will pause production increases in the first quarter of 2026, easing fears of a global supply glut.
Brent crude futures gained 0.7% to $65.20 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed 0.7% to $61.41.
The OPEC+ alliance, which includes major producers like Saudi Arabia and Russia, confirmed plans to raise output by 137,000 barrels per day (bpd) in December, the same as in October and November.
However, the group said it would pause further production hikes from January through March 2026, citing expectations of sluggish demand and seasonal weakness in early-year consumption.
So far, OPEC+ has raised output by nearly 2.9 million bpd in 2025, but the group is now opting for a cautious approach amid concerns about oversupply and slowing global growth.
