ARTICLE AD
FILE PHOTO: Bull and bear symbols for successful and bad trading are seen in front of the German stock exchange (Deutsche Boerse) in Frankfurt, Germany, February 12, 2019.
Kai Pfaffenbach | Reuters
Shares listed in Europe kicked off the new trading month with a strong rebound, after notching their worst month since 2022 in March.
The regional Stoxx 600 was seen trading 1.8% higher shortly after 10:30 a.m. in London, with all major bourses and sectors besides oil and gas stocks trading in the green. Britain's FTSE 100 was last seen up 1.6%, while Germany's DAX was 1.7% higher and France's CAC 40 gained 1.3%.
The moves come after President Donald Trump said Tuesday that American forces would leave Iran in "two or three weeks," adding that the U.S. would end its war "whether we have a deal or not."
Global benchmark Brent crude oil was 0.4% lower on Wednesday morning, trading at around $103.82 per barrel as markets digested Trump's comments. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were last seen trading 0.3% higher at $101.71.
Asian stocks traded higher on Tuesday, while futures data pointed to a higher open on Wall Street.
Trump is due to address the United States at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
European investors will also be monitoring euro zone employment data, due later on Wednesday.
In corporate news, Danish wind energy developer Vestas announced overnight it had received a 135-megawatt order in the U.S. for an undisclosed project. It came hours after the company said it had received a 90-megawatt order in the United Kingdom.
In a note sent Wednesday morning, analysts at Citi gave Vestas a Buy rating and said the wind giant's first-quarter order intake now totaled 4.2 gigawatts.
"With signs of market improvement in Germany, and initial evidence of a US up cycle, we think orders can continue to build from here, driving better than expected growth," they said.
Rightmove shares fell 7.8% upon the news that the property listing portal is facing a £1.5bn class action lawsuit from estate agents accusing the firm of market abuse by charging "unsustainable fees".
Rightmove acknowledged the claim, but said in a statement that it was "without merit, and we will defend it vigorously".
Meanwhile, Nike's Frankfurt-listed shares followed their U.S. counterparts sharply lower early on Wednesday after the retailer warned sales will fall for the rest of the calendar year, led by an expected 20% decline in its key China market during the current quarter.
