European equities nudged lower on Monday, with sentiment softening as traders stepped into the final month of the year and weighed a busy slate of regional economic indicators.
By 09:17 GMT, the Stoxx 600 was down 0.1% at 575.62. Germany’s DAX declined 0.6%, France’s CAC 40 eased 0.2%, and the UK’s FTSE 100 dipped 0.1%.
A wave of upcoming data releases is expected to shape expectations for the European economy as 2026 approaches. Manufacturing gauges across the Eurozone slipped back into contraction in November, with both Germany and France also reporting weaker factory activity.
Concerns around the artificial intelligence sector—particularly the risk of a speculative bubble—remain a key talking point, although some of that anxiety appeared to cool toward the end of November.
In the background, retailers’ performance over Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the U.S. and abroad continued to influence broader market sentiment.
Airbus (EU:AIR) shares were among the notable decliners after the company disclosed it had recalled 6,000 aircraft for immediate software repairs—a move affecting more than half of its global fleet.
Defense stocks also lost ground after reports that U.S. and Ukrainian officials held “productive” discussions regarding a potential peace agreement in the ongoing conflict with Russia. The European defense index slid more than 2%, with names like Hensoldt (TG:HAG), Rheinmetall (TG:RHM), and Leonardo (BIT:LDO) posting declines.
Oil climbs as OPEC+ keeps output stable
Crude prices gained more than 1% on Monday, supported by OPEC+’s reaffirmed stance to maintain current production levels during the first quarter and by renewed geopolitical risks to supply.
As of 04:12 ET, February Brent futures were up 1.92% to $63.57 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 2.12% to $59.76.
OPEC+ reiterated on Sunday that it will extend its pause on production increases into early next year, continuing voluntary cuts totaling about 3.24 million barrels per day. The group indicated it is taking a measured approach as it weighs unpredictable demand patterns and the possibility of oversupply in 2026.
Crude also found support after several attacks over the weekend on Russian energy infrastructure disrupted export flows. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium—one of the key routes for Kazakh and Russian crude via the Black Sea—halted shipments following a naval drone strike that significantly damaged equipment at its Novorossiysk terminal.
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