The Iran-flagged container vessel “Nora”, in Kalundborg harbor, Denmark, March 18, 2026. The vessel was detained by Denmark’s maritime authority in February over registration concerns.<\/p>\n
Jens Nielsen | Via Reuters<\/p>\n
LONDON \u2014 European stocks are expected to follow Asian markets sharply lower at the start of the new trading week, as further escalation in the Iran war<\/a> drags on global market sentiment.<\/p>\n The U.K.’s FTSE 100<\/a> index is seen opening 1% lower, with Germany’s DAX<\/a> down 1.5%, France’s CAC 40<\/a>\u00a0down 1.4% and Italy’s FTSE MIB<\/a> down 1.5%, according to data from IG.<\/p>\n Europe’s markets are expected to follow their Asian counterparts lower on Monday as concerns deepen over the Iran war and the blockage of vital maritime passage, the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n U.S. President Donald Trump\u00a0said Saturday that he would “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if Tehran failed to fully reopen the Strait<\/a> within 48 hours<\/p>\n Iran responded by escalating threats to target energy infrastructure and desalination facilities in the Gulf. Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf\u00a0also said Saturday<\/a> that entities that purchase American government bonds<\/a> and “finance the U.S. military budget” would be considered legitimate targets, alongside military bases.<\/p>\n Crude prices<\/a> whipsawed in volatile trading earlier Monday, while Asia-Pacific markets<\/a> traded lower. U.S. stock futures<\/a> were little changed Sunday night with sentiment knocked after the major U.S. benchmarks posted their fourth-straight weekly loss.<\/p>\n Earnings reports in Europe come from Kongsberg Gruppen<\/a>, Exor<\/a> and Galp Energia<\/a>. Spain trade balance data will also be released.<\/p>\n \u2014 CNBC’s Anniek Bao contributed to this market report.<\/p>\n