European stock markets rose slightly on Wednesday, snapping a three-session losing streak, as investors shifted their focus to a heavy corporate earnings season while U.S.-Iran talks remained deadlocked.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 0.2% at 607.54 points by 0704 GMT. European bourses remain nearly 5% below pre-war levels, lagging behind their U.S. counterparts and global markets, which have rebounded fueled in part by gains in artificial intelligence and technology stocks.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated he was dissatisfied with Tehran’s latest proposal to end the conflict, and the Wall Street Journal reported that the president had instructed advisors to prepare for a prolonged blockade of Iranian ports.
On the earnings front, Adidas climbed 8.2% after the German sportswear manufacturer reported first-quarter operating profits that beat expectations.
UBS rose 5% after the Swiss bank posted first-quarter net profit above estimates, despite market turbulence stemming from the war in the Middle East.
Deutsche Bank recorded its highest-ever profit under CEO Christian Sewing and revised its 2026 investment bank revenue forecasts upward. However, its shares fell 2.8%.
Pernod Ricard edged lower after the French spirits company ended merger talks with Jack Daniel’s owner Brown-Forman.
(Reporting by Twesha Dikshit; editing by Sumana Nandy; Spanish editing by Paula Villalba)
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