STOXX 600 snaps four-day losing streak on energy, tech boost
Soitec surges after H1 results
Defence stocks up 1.5%
Tariff hikes won't shift inflation outlook - ECB policymaker
STOXX 600 up 0.5%
Updates to closing levels
By Joao Manuel Vicente Mauricio and Pranav Kashyap
Nov 21 (Reuters) - Europe's main stock index edged up on Thursday, buoyed by a rally in energy and tech stocks that ended its longest losing streak in more than two months, while geopolitical tensions underpinned demand for safe-haven assets.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX was up 0.5%, snapping its four-day losing streak.
Uncertainties around the escalating Ukraine-Russia conflict drove up oil prices, leading to gains in the energy sector .SXEP that ticked 1.3% higher.
Ukraine said Russia fired what appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile at the city of Dnipro on Thursday.
Defence stocks .SXPARO rose 1.5%.
Assets perceived as safe havens have been on the rise, with gold XAU=, the Swiss franc CHF= and the U.S. dollar =USD edging up on the day. GOL/ FRX/
A 1.6% gain in insurers .SXIP also provided support. It was boosted by a 3.1% rise in Zurich Insurance ZURN.S after the company's upbeat three-year targets , and a 6.8% rise in Poland's PZU PZU.WA following third-quarter results .
"We're not seeing those geopolitical concerns really being reflected in the stock market. We saw a little bit of nerves, which is limiting gains, rather than creating a big risk-off mood in the market," said Fiona Cincotta, senior market analyst at City Index.
Despite hitting record highs earlier this year, the STOXX 600 has sharply fallen behind its U.S. counterpart S&P 500 .SPX in 2024, also dented by likely domestic impacts of Donald Trump's U.S. presidential victory, concerns over Chinese spending and the euro zone's economic woes.
While an ECB policymaker said tariff hikes under Trump do not shift Europe's inflation outlook, a Federal Reserve official noted it was too early to start assessing the election impact on monetary policy.
Separately, Euro zone consumer confidence fell by 1.2 points to -13.7 in November from October.
European tech stocks ASML ASML.AS and SAP SAPG.DE reversed early losses and gained more than 2% each, with the world's largest company by market value, Nvidia NVDA.O, forecasting fourth quarter revenue above estimates.
"There is still optimism surrounding the sector ... It's not that we've seen anything really disastrous," Cincotta said.
The AI chip leader's shares were down 0.8% in U.S. trading.
Soitec SOIT.PA jumped 7.5% after the French semiconductor materials supplier's half-year results, limiting the tech sector's .SX8P losses.
CTS Eventim EVDG.DE slumped 8.1% followingthe German ticketing group's nine-month results, while JD Sports Fashion JD.L slid 15.5%after the sportswear retailer warned that its annual profit would come in at the low end of its guided range.
Halma HLMA.L was up 5.7%, as the health and safety device maker reported its half-year results.
Reporting by Ankika Biswas and Pranav Kashyap in Bengaluru, Joao Manuel Mauricio in Gdansk; Editing by Rashmi Aich, Maju Samuel and Alex Richardson
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