2026.08.0307:45:51UTC+00European Stocks Kick Off August Higher

European stocks opened August on a strong footing, with the STOXX 50 up 0.9% and the STOXX 600 advancing 0.3%, as investors geared up for a new wave of corporate earnings and reacted positively to lower oil prices after US President Donald Trump announced that fresh US-Iran talks would begin on Monday. Airlines led the advance, with Lufthansa (+3.8%) and Ryanair (+3.3%) among the top gainers. Airbus (+3.2%), SAP (+3.7%), and Safran (+3.2%) also moved higher, while Worldline jumped nearly 7% to top the STOXX 600, building on Friday’s strong rally. On the downside, AstraZeneca slumped more than 6% after reports emerged that it was in merger discussions with Bristol Myers Squibb over a potential $400 billion transaction. Energy stocks were also under pressure amid falling crude prices, with Eni (-2.2%), TotalEnergies (-1.8%), and Shell (-1.1%) all trading in negative territory.