European Stocks Rebound, Trump Hints at Pressure on China Over Hormuz
European stocks started the trading week in the green despite continued tensions in the Middle East and persistently high global oil prices. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index rose 0.2% shortly after 8:00 a.m. London time on Monday (March 16), with most major bourses and most sectors trading higher.
At the country level, the UK's FTSE 100 opened up 0.3%, Germany's DAX rose nearly 0.1%, and France's CAC 40 edged up 0.1%–0.2%. Italy's FTSE MIB was the exception, falling nearly 0.1%.
The main focus of global markets remains on the US and Israeli military operations against Iran. US crude oil prices rose Sunday evening and re-surfaced above US$100 per barrel, after the White House considered a military strike on Iran's main oil export facility on Kharg Island.
US President Donald Trump also said in an interview with the Financial Times published Sunday that his planned visit to China later this month could be postponed, as Washington seeks to pressure Beijing to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: Newsmaker.id
