European stocks closed slightly lower on Monday, with the Stoxx 600 index shedding 0.07% after momentum slowed last week from the early-year rally. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 dropped 0.55%, while Germany’s DAX fell 0.1% and France’s CAC 40 gained 0.28%.
In the U.S., the three major indexes opened lower on Monday, with the Dow trading down more than 150 points, or around 0.4%, shortly after the opening bell. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite each slid around 0.1%.
Shares of Spanish drugmaker Grifols traded down 7.9% in early deals, continuing its downward momentum after losing 35% last week due to poor financial results. On the other end, Germany’s Delivery Hero rose 5.7% after announcing a fresh financing deal with better conditions on existing credit lines.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 breached 40,000 for the first time, continuing its record-breaking rally. The index was up 0.8% and has been a top performer among major stock markets in the Asia-Pacific region.
Looking ahead, the European Central Bank is expected to hold interest rates steady on Thursday, despite signs of easing inflation. Analysts are pricing in an initial rate cut in June as disinflation slows, eventually hitting the bank’s 2% target by the third quarter of this year.
Overall, global markets are facing volatility and uncertainty, with various factors influencing stock movements. Stay tuned for more updates on market trends and developments.
