LONDON — European stocks were slightly lower on Friday as investors continue to monitor geopolitical tensions.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 was 0.2% lower at 8:50 a.m. (3:50 a.m. ET), with major bourses and most sectors in negative territory.
The benchmark index was lifted by semiconductor stocks on Thursday amid positive results from TSMC, with some names extending gains into Friday. Shares of Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML was last seen 0.44% higher and ASM International advanced 9.35%, hitting a fresh high.
Just a few days after a U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia judge gave Orsted the go-ahead to resume work on its nearly-finished Revolution Wind project, Equinor has been cleared by the same district to resume work on its Empire Wind project. The Trump administration halted five major offshore wind developments at the end of last year. Equinor’s share price was last seen 0.36% higher.
European troops arrived in Greenland late Thursday ahead of a Democratic-led visit to Denmark on Friday for talks with Danish MPs. A White House meeting over the Danish territory’s future on Wednesday ended without a diplomatic breakthrough, although the U.S., Denmark and Greenland agreed to keep talking.
Energy markets have been volatile recently as investors weigh a violent crackdown on civil unrest in oil-rich Iran and Washington’s response, which includes possible tariffs on Iran’s trading partners. March futures for the global benchmark Brent crude oil were last seen flat, trading at $63.74 per barrel.
Silver and gold have been on a tear as investors seek safer bets amid concerns of Federal Reserve Independence. Futures for March and February tied to the metals, however, were last seen 1.41% and 0.33% down, respectively.
Asian chip stocks climbed Friday, lifting several regional markets even as broader Asia-Pacific trade remained mixed. Stateside, stock futures rose after a rally in banks and tech names boosted the major averages.
The are no major data releases today.
— CNBC’s Chloe Taylor and Sam Meredith contributed to this report.
