European Stocks Stall as Hormuz Negotiations Falter and Oil Surges, Putting AI Rally Under Pressure
European equities traded essentially flat as a renewed rise in crude prices and a breakdown in Middle East mediation weighed on risk appetite. The Stoxx Europe 600 held just below all-time highs as energy producers outperformed and technology and capital-goods names lagged amid volatile earnings and growing scrutiny of AI-related capital spending.