European shares close up after ECB delivers first rate-cut in five years
For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click LIVE/ or type LIVE/ in a news window.
ECB cuts interest rate by 25 bps
SAP gains on CEO comments
Novo Nordisk hits fresh record high
Technology stocks at near 24-year high
Updated at 1538 GMT
By Shristi Achar A and Shashwat Chauhan
June 6 (Reuters) -European shares closed higher on Thursday, boosted by banking, technology and healthcare stocks, though they finished below session highs after the European Central Bank cut lending rates for the first time since 2019 but left the timing of future moves unclear.
The pan-European STOXX 600 .STOXX closed 0.7% higher, off record high levels hitearlier in the session.
The ECBwent ahead with its first interest rate cut since 2019, citing progress in tackling inflation even as it acknowledged the fight was far from over.
"Arguably the ECB has been cornered to a rate cut today which reduced somewhat its credibility in relation to 'data dependency'," said Janet Mui, head of market analysis at wealth manager RBC Brewin Dolphin.
"Overall, there are likely to be further rate cuts in this cycle as disinflation has made huge progress and is set to continue, but the path of the rate cuts is difficult to pinpoint, as economic growth is on a better footing again"
In new forecasts , the ECB said it expected inflation to average 2.2% in 2025 - up from a previous estimate of 2.0% and meaning it was now seen holding above the central bank's 2% target well into next year.
ECB PresidentChristine Lagarde said that only one ECB Governing Council member had opposed the bank's decision to cut interest rates earlier in the day.
European lenders .SX7E led sectoral gains, rising 1.7%, while healthcare .SXDP was another boost, advancing 1.4% as Novo Nordisk NOVOb.CO rose almost 4% to hit a record high.
Technology stocks .SX8P closed 1.2% higher, holding nearits highest since December 2000, withGerman enterprise software giant SAP SAPG.DE rising 3.6% afterCEO Christian Klein gaveencouraging guidance for 2026 and 2027. The stock topped Germany'sDAX 40 .GDAXI, which closed 0.4% up.
Dutch semiconductor firm ASML ASML.AS also extended its gains from Wednesday, rising 1.5%.
Rate-sensitive sectors like utility .SX6P and real estate .SX86P were amongst the laggards, falling 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively.
Among other stocks,Nemetschek NEKG.DE advanced 6.2% as the German software developer agreed to buy U.S. software provider GoCanvas.
On the data front, euro zone retail sales fell more than anticipated in April, declining 0.5% against expectations of a 0.3% decline.
Reporting by Shristi Achar A and Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Sohini Goswami, Eileen Soreng and Toby Chopra
Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
