The Euronext trading exchange building in La Defense business district, west of Paris, on April 7, 2025.
Thomas Samson | Afp | Getty Images
European markets opened lower to start the new trading week Monday as investors assessed the economic outlook after hopes of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut were boosted Friday.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 was down by 0.2% shortly after trading began, with regional indexes largely trading in negative territory. Germany’s DAX was last around 0.4% lower, while France’s CAC 40 fell around 0.3%. U.K. markets were closed for a public holiday.
Investors continued to weigh the economic outlook after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Friday suggested the central bank may soon opt to cut interest rates. Last week, markets had also considered fresh details on the U.S.-European Union trade agreement, which provided some much sought after clarity to sectors such as pharmaceuticals.
As trading begins Monday, investors are set to pay close attention to shares of windfarm developer Orsted. Late on Friday, U.S. authorities ordered the company to halt construction of a near-complete project off of Rhode Island, threatening Orsted’s plans to raise capital.
Orsted shares tumbled to start the trading day and were last down by around 18%.
Elsewhere, U.S. beverage company Keurig Dr Pepper said Monday that it would buy Dutch coffee company JDE Peet’s for 15.7 billion euros ($18.4 billion). Shares in JDE Peet’s jumped as high as 17% soon after trading began in Europe.
The week is set to begin relatively quietly on the economic data front before the release of a raft of inflation figures from France, Germany, Italy and other key European countries on Friday. Investors will also be following the latest key earnings from across Europe and further afield, with drinks maker Pernod Ricard and tech giant Nvidia among those expected to report.
Stateside, U.S. futures traded around the flatline early on Monday. Asia markets rose, led by mainland China and Hong Kong stocks.