Global Markets | European shares extend gains as oil retreats; Fed decision in focus

European shares extended their rebound on Wednesday as retreating crude prices boosted sentiment, while ‌investors also ⁠awaited ⁠an interest rate decision from the U.S. Federal Reserve.

The ​pan-European benchmark STOXX 600 was up 0.5% to 605.59 points ​by 0810 GMT. The index gained for a third straight session, its longest such streak ​in a month.

Global markets ⁠rallied as ‌oil prices paused gains, even ​as hostilities ​intensified between Israel and Iran ⁠following the killing of Tehran's security chief.


Energy sector ​edged 0.3% lower, on track to ​snap an eight-day winning streak on crude's pullback, while financial stocks provided the biggest boost to the benchmark.

Among individual movers, Diploma jumped 14.5% after the technical products and services ‌distributor raised its fiscal year 2026 guidance.

Bollore jumped 15.7% after the company ​proposed an exceptional ​dividend of ⁠1.5 euros per share.

On the macro front, the euro zone's final reading for February consumer prices was ​due later in the day.

Investors will now closely parse the Fed's outlook for new policy decisions post the outbreak of the Middle East conflict.