European indexes fall as tech rally falters

0721 GMT – European equities fall in opening trade as a rally in technology stocks stutters. The Europe-wide Stoxx 600 drops 0.3%. London’s FTSE 100 slips 0.1% as consumer-facing stocks lag. In Paris, the CAC 40 slips 0.1% as luxury companies that dominate the index falter, with bellwether LVMH down 1.1%. Airbus lifts the sector, rising 5.1% after the group forecast a profitability bump. The cross-listed aircraft maker also supports the German DAX, which edges 0.1% lower. AI-related stocks weigh on the Dutch AEX, whichfalls 0.8% as ASML drops 2.25%. Santander falls 0.4% after earnings, paring earlier losses but still dragging Spain’s IBEX 35, which falls 0.3%. The FTSE MIB falls 0.2%. ([email protected])

Nikkei Rises 1.3%, Led by Chip, Metals Stocks

0013 GMT — Japanese stocks are higher following a recovery in U.S. technology stocks overnight. Chip and metals stocks are leading gains. Tokyo Electron Ltd. is up 4.3%, SoftBank Group is 3.7% higher and JX Advanced Metals is up 4.1%. The dollar is at 163.15 yen, up from Y162.52 as of Tuesday’s Tokyo stock market close. Investors are closely watching developments in the Middle East as fighting between the U.S. and Iran has intensified in recent days. Any comments on the yen’s weakness from Japanese government officials are also in focus. The Nikkei Stock Average is up 1.3% at 67101.42. ([email protected]; @kosakunarioka)