economy
February 5, 2026
European stocks finish lower; Bank of England and European Central Bank hold rates steady
European stocks closed lower traders monitored more regional earnings reports Thursday.
TL;DR
- The pan-European Stoxx 600 index fell by nearly 1.1%, with all major European stock exchanges ending in negative territory.
- Companies reporting earnings included BBVA, BNP Paribas, Vinci, BMW, Siemens Healthineers, Anglo American, Danske Bank, ArcelorMittal, Moller Maersk, and Vestas Wind Systems.
- Rheinmetall's shares dropped 6.5% after forecasting weak 2026 revenues.
- Volvo Cars reported a 68% decrease in fourth-quarter operating income, leading to a 22.5% share price drop.
- Shell's fourth-quarter adjusted earnings missed analyst expectations, causing its shares to fall 3.4%.
- The Bank of England kept its interest rate at 3.75%, while the European Central Bank held its key interest rate steady at 2%.
- Global markets have seen turbulence, with Wall Street experiencing losses and South Korean stocks leading declines in Asia-Pacific markets.
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