---
title: "European Stocks Open Lower Friday as Geopolitical Conflict and Economic Outlook Weigh"
type: "News"
locale: "zh-HK"
url: "https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/279011904.md"
description: "European stocks opened lower on Friday, with the UK FTSE 100 down 0.68%, the French CAC 40 down 1.14%, the German DAX 30 down 1.01%, and the Italian FTSE MIB down 0.84%. This decline follows a 0.7% drop in the Stoxx Europe 600 index, as investors assess the impact of the Middle East conflict on global economic growth. UK GDP data showed zero growth, raising concerns about European recovery. Rising energy prices have also pressured German bonds, while expectations for ECB rate hikes have increased amid ongoing market volatility."
datetime: "2026-03-13T08:55:16.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/279011904.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/279011904.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/279011904.md)
---

> 支持的語言: [简体中文](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/279011904.md) | [English](https://longbridge.com/en/news/279011904.md)


# European Stocks Open Lower Friday as Geopolitical Conflict and Economic Outlook Weigh

TradingKey - At 8:30 a.m. London time, the UK FTSE 100 opened down 0.68%, the French CAC 40 fell 1.14%, the German DAX 30 dropped 1.01%, and the Italian FTSE MIB declined 0.84%. During Thursday's session, the Stoxx Europe 600 index closed down approximately 0.7%, marking the second consecutive day of pressure for European equities.

This Friday, the final trading day of the week for European markets, major indices opened lower across the board as investors continued to evaluate the potential long-term impact of the escalating conflict in the Middle East on global economic growth.

Meanwhile, the latest UK GDP data for January showed the economy in a state of zero growth, further exacerbating market worries about the outlook for a European economic recovery.

Propelled by rising energy prices, German government bonds slumped across the board, and money market bets on European Central Bank rate hikes next year gained further momentum.

Traders currently expect the ECB's rate hikes through 2027 to increase by 3 basis points, with cumulative monetary policy tightening of 52 basis points by mid-next year; meanwhile, interest rate swaps indicate that expectations for a 47-basis-point hike by year-end remain consistent with Thursday's levels.

Following a week of global market volatility, energy price trends remain the primary focus for investors. The U.S. announced a 30-day temporary waiver on Friday allowing sanctioned Russian oil shipments by sea, intended to alleviate market fears of crude supply shortages and soaring prices.

Despite the International Energy Agency (IEA) announcing a record release of 400 million barrels from emergency reserves on Wednesday and the U.S. Department of Energy's prior plan to release 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Brent crude prices remain above $100 per barrel.

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