london stock exchange foyer ©London Stock Exchange
European equity markets showed mixed performances on Thursday as investors weighed escalating tensions in the Middle East while reacting to the latest monetary policy decision from the European Central Bank (ECB).
As widely anticipated, the ECB announced a 25-basis-point increase in interest rates in an effort to contain rising inflationary pressures across the euro area.
UK Housing Data Shows Signs of Stability
On the economic front, data from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors indicated that the U.K. house price balance remained unchanged at -35% in May compared with the previous month.
Although the headline figure was stable, several underlying indicators pointed to signs of stabilization in the British housing market after an extended period of weakness.
Major European Indices Diverge
Market performance varied across the region.
Germany’s DAX Index slipped 0.2%, while France’s CAC 40 advanced 0.5%. In London, the FTSE 100 outperformed its continental peers, rising 0.6%.
Technology Stocks Lead Gains
Technology shares were among the strongest performers during the session.
Infineon gained 2%, while ASM International (EU:ASM) jumped 4.2%. BE Semiconductor (EU:BESI) climbed more than 5% following Oracle’s (NYSE:ORCL) announcement of record fourth-quarter and fiscal 2026 results, which boosted sentiment across the semiconductor sector.
UniCredit Advances After Commerzbank Update
UniCredit (BIT:UCG) rose around 1% after Commerzbank disclosed that no institutional shareholders had tendered their holdings into the Italian lender’s takeover proposal.
The development came a day after renewed attention on UniCredit’s efforts to pursue consolidation opportunities within the European banking sector.
Hugo Boss Surges on Takeover Proposal
Shares of Hugo Boss (TG:BOSS) soared 7.7% after Frasers Group (LSE:FRAS) launched a voluntary public takeover bid for the German fashion company.
The offer sparked strong investor interest as markets assessed the potential implications of a deal involving one of Europe’s leading apparel brands.
Halma Falls Following Guidance Update
British safety equipment manufacturer Halma (LSE:HLMA) was among the session’s weakest performers, with its shares tumbling 15%.
The decline followed the company’s release of guidance for the coming year, which disappointed investors.
Safestore Slides on Profit Decline
Safestore Holdings (LSE:SAFE) dropped more than 2% after reporting a 52.8% decline in first-half operating profit.
The self-storage operator’s results prompted a negative market reaction despite continued expansion across its portfolio.