European stock markets traded in a narrow range on Thursday as investors digested mixed corporate earnings and evaluated the outlook for artificial intelligence following strong guidance from NVIDIA Corporation.
The pan-European STOXX 600 was little changed at 633.34 points by 08:20 GMT, hovering close to record highs. Nvidia’s forecast for first-quarter revenue above market expectations offered some support, although the reaction remained relatively subdued. Nvidia shares rose 1.1% in Frankfurt trading, reflecting cautious investor sentiment despite the upbeat outlook.
Technology stocks worldwide remain under close watch as markets weigh the potential disruption from next-generation AI models. At the same time, leading AI companies continue to invest heavily in building out artificial intelligence infrastructure. European tech shares edged slightly higher in response.
Among individual movers, Schneider Electric gained 3% after reporting better-than-expected core earnings, supported by strong demand from data center customers. The results reinforced optimism around AI-related infrastructure spending.
In contrast, Belgian chemicals group Syensqo plunged 22.6% after fourth-quarter core earnings fell short of market forecasts, prompting a temporary trading halt.
Meanwhile, London Stock Exchange Group advanced 3.6% after announcing a new share buyback programme. The move comes as the company faces pressure from activist investor Elliott Management and growing concerns that artificial intelligence could disrupt parts of its business model.
