live Israel launches fresh strikes on Iran as tensions escalate further - Latest on Middle East crisis
Israel reportedly launched a fresh wave of attacks on Iran on Friday (20 March), a day after U.S. President Donald...
European shares started the week positively on Monday, recovering losses from the previous session after U.S. President Donald Trump postponed his plan to impose a 50% tariff on European goods.
The STOXX 600 index rose by 1%, rebounding from Friday’s 0.9% drop caused by Trump’s surprise tariff threat. He pushed the tariff deadline back to July 9 from June 1, following a request from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for more time to negotiate a deal.
The auto sector, sensitive to tariffs, led gains with a 1.8% rise, despite a 3.3% fall in Porsche shares. Defence stocks also helped, with Rheinmetall and Leonardo up more than 3% each. The aerospace and defence index grew 1.7%, boosting industrial stocks by 1.5%.
German shares climbed 1.7%, nearing record highs thanks to strong performance in defence and auto companies. Luxury brands like Kering, LVMH, and Richemont also rose about 1%, lifting the luxury index.
UBS’s Mark Haefele cautioned that while the delay is good news, investors may be too optimistic about trade talks.
The euro strengthened, and government bond yields remained steady as Trump stepped back from his tariff threats. Concerns about a U.S. economic slowdown and recent credit rating downgrade by Moody’s have made investors wary of U.S. assets.
Swissquote analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya said trade and geopolitical tensions have shifted investor sentiment away from the U.S. as a safe haven.
Trading volumes were low due to holidays in the U.S. and UK, but U.S. futures were up over 1%.
Notably, Thyssenkrupp shares surged 8.8% after reports the company will hold a shareholder vote in August on spinning off its warship division. Zealand Pharma led the STOXX 600 with a 10% gain.
One person has died after a cable car cabin at the Titlis ski resort in central Switzerland plunged down a snow-covered mountainside on Wednesday (18 March) amid strong winds.
Iranian President Pezeshkian has confirmed the killing of intelligence minister Esmail Khatib calling it a "cowardly assassination", following reports that Israel carried out an overnight strike.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel struck Iran’s South Pars gas field without U.S. or Qatari involvement, and warned that any Iranian attack on Qatar would prompt massive retaliation. The comments come as regional tensions soar after Tehran fired missiles at Gulf energy sites.
When a NATO-led coalition helped to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi’s dictatorship in Libya in 2011, it looked like the sun had risen on a new era. But within years, the nation was gripped by a second civil war, declining living standards and collapsing institutions. Could Iran follow suit?
South Korean pop sensation BTS, one of the world’s biggest music acts known for their record-breaking albums, global tours and devoted fanbase ARMY, will return to the spotlight in a new documentary, BTS: THE RETURN, premiering globally on Netflix on 27 March.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has refused to lift his opposition to a €90 billion ($104 billion) European Union loan to help Ukraine keep up its fight against Russia’s invasion, following a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday (19 March).
Every team in a FIFA women's competition will now be required to have at least one female head or assistant coach as part of sweeping new regulations from soccer's governing body, aimed at boosting the number of women coaching at the highest levels.
Italy will vote on 22–23 March in a judicial reform referendum that could reshape the justice system and test Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s political strength ahead of the 2027 general election.
Transport groups across the Philippines launched a nationwide strike on Thursday in protest against rising oil prices. The action affected 15 to 20 protest centres in Metro Manila, with similar demonstrations taking place across several major provinces.
European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels on 19–20 March for a high-stakes summit shaped largely by external geopolitical shocks, with surging energy prices and a stalled €90 billion loan to Ukraine emerging as the dominant issues.
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