European shares moved mostly lower on Wednesday as investors assessed renewed tensions in the Middle East and fiscal concerns in France.
Brent crude futures traded above $101 a barrel following further attacks on vessels in the Persian Gulf region. German, French and Italian government bond yields also increased as attention returned to fiscal conditions.
The UK’s FTSE 100 fell 0.5%, while France’s CAC 40 declined 1.1% and Germany’s DAX dropped 1.2%.
German Industrial Production Rises 2%
German industrial production increased 2.0% month-on-month in August, reversing a 1.2% decline in July, according to Destatis. Economists had expected an increase of 0.5%.
On an annual basis, industrial production rose 2.3%, compared with a 1.8% decline in July.
In the UK, house prices were unchanged month-on-month in September after declining for the previous two months, according to data from Lloyds Banking Group. Prices fell 0.3% in August and 0.1% in July.
Pennon and Valerio Therapeutics Decline, Bridgepoint Rises
Pennon Group (LSE:PNN) shares fell after the water utility announced a £550 million rights issue and a 30% reduction in its dividend.
Valerio Therapeutics (EU:ALVIO) also declined after the clinical-stage biotechnology company reported a wider net loss for the first half of 2026.
Mersen (EU:MRN) shares moved lower despite the French electrical power and advanced materials company raising its annual outlook and reaffirming its medium-term targets for fiscal 2029.
Bridgepoint (LSE:BPT), meanwhile, rose after the alternative asset manager increased its 2026 profit guidance, raised its medium-term carried-interest targets and revised its dividend policy.
Shell (LSE:SHEL) shares also advanced after the company increased its third-quarter integrated gas production outlook.
British American Tobacco (LSE:BATS) moved higher after entering into a new agreement with Merrill Lynch International to conduct its share repurchase programme from October 13.
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