18.08.202516:01:48UTC+00European Stocks Close Slightly Lower

European equities experienced a slight decline on Monday as investors exhibited caution, positioning ahead of a crucial week poised to potentially reshape the geopolitical landscape and influence global interest rates. The STOXX 50 index fell by 0.3%, closing at 5,431, while the STOXX 600 remained stable at 554. Anticipation surrounds Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming guidance on interest rates at the Jackson Hole Symposium, especially as recent weaker labor market data has bolstered the arguments of Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) dissenters. Concurrently, discussions involving Ukrainian President Zelensky, European leaders, and U.S. President Trump in Washington aim to explore a potential peace agreement. There is apprehension that Kyiv might be compelled to consent to conditions more favorable to Moscow. In corporate news, bank stocks led the decline, with BNP Paribas and Nordea both seeing drops exceeding 1.5%. In contrast, Vestas experienced a notable 15% surge, benefiting from advantageous changes within the U.S. tax credit framework. Novo Nordisk also saw a substantial gain of more than 6%, following its decision to halve the price of Wegovy for direct purchasers.