05.02.202608:34:38UTC+00European Stocks Mixed, Earnings and ECB Eyed

On Thursday, the STOXX 50 index experienced a modest increase of 0.5%, in contrast, the broader STOXX 600 slipped by 0.2%. Investors were carefully analyzing the latest corporate earnings and preparing for upcoming decisions on monetary policy by the Bank of England and the European Central Bank scheduled for later that morning. Shell's shares dropped 1.6% after the company reported profits below expectations, primarily due to falling crude prices. BBVA saw a more significant decline, falling over 4% as its earnings disappointed investors. Similarly, Maersk's stock plummeted almost 6% following a warning about a potential earnings drop in 2026. Vestas also experienced a 2.6% decrease after failing to meet profit forecasts, and Rheinmetall fell by 4.2%. On the positive side, BNP Paribas rose by 3% following an upward revision of its forecast for shareholder returns, while ArcelorMittal saw a 0.9% increase thanks to a stronger-than-anticipated fourth-quarter profit. Other companies also performing well included ASML Holding, Siemens, SAP, and Prosus, with stock increases of 1.5%, 1.2%, 1.9%, and 3% respectively. On the monetary policy front, it is widely anticipated that both the Bank of England and the European Central Bank will maintain current interest rates.