economy

April 30, 2026

European markets rebound as oil prices fall; BOE and ECB hold rates

European stocks edged higher on Thursday, reversing morning losses, as investors assessed more earnings and central bank moves.

European markets rebound as oil prices fall; BOE and ECB hold rates

TL;DR

  • European stocks finished the day up 1.4%, recovering from earlier losses.
  • Brent crude oil prices initially hit a wartime high near $126 a barrel but later fell significantly.
  • Stellantis shares dropped despite exceeding earnings expectations, while Magnum Ice Cream Company shares soared.
  • Volkswagen shares rose slightly despite a profit decrease, and French banks BNP Paribas and Societe Generale saw their stocks fall.
  • The European Central Bank and the Bank of England kept interest rates unchanged.
  • Euro zone growth showed signs of slowing, with GDP increasing by only 0.1% in the first quarter.
  • Euro zone inflation rose to 3% in April.

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