European stocks close higher
The pan European Stoxx 600 added 0.23%
European stocks recovered after a weak start and settled on a positive note on Wednesday, as investors tracked steady U.S. markets and indulged in some bargain hunting at several counters.
Concerns about stretched valuations in the tech sector rendered the mood bearish on Tuesday and for some duration of the session this morning. Investors digested the latest batch of earnings and economic updates.
The pan European Stoxx 600 added 0.23%.
Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden ended higher.
Belgium, Denmark, Finland and Russia closed weak, while Greece and Poland closed flat.
The U.K.’s FTSE 100 rose 0.08%, Germany’s DAX jumped 0.41% and France’s CAC 40 closed with a gain of 0.64%. Switzerland’s SMI added 0.46%.
In economic news, Germany’s factory orders rebounded at a stronger-than-expected pace in September driven by higher demand for auto and electrical equipments.
Factory orders rose 1.1% in September from August, Destatis reported. Orders were forecast to rise 0.9%, reversing a revised 0.4% decline in August. Excluding large-scale orders, new orders were 1.9% higher than in the previous month.
Data from S&P Global showed the HCOB Germany Composite PMI was revised slightly higher to 53.9 in October 2025 from a preliminary of 53.8, compared to 52 in September. The figure pointed to the strongest growth in private sector activity since May 2023.
Services sector activity improved sharply. The Services PMI jumped to 54.6 in October from 51.5 a month earlier, while the manufacturing PMI number came in at 49.6, compared to 49.5 in September.
Data from statistical office INSEE showed industrial production in France increased 0.8% month-on-month in September 2025, rebounding from an upwardly revised 0.9% drop in August and exceeding market expectations of a 0.1% rise.
Data from S&P Global showed the HCOB France Composite PMI for October was revised higher to 47.7, compared to the flash estimate of 46.8 but coming below September’s figure of 48.1. This marked the 14th straight month of decline in private sector activity and the sharpest since February.