European Session: FTSE 100 Rises as Other Indices Decline
European Trading Session Report | October 23, 2025 | Markets analysis during European hours (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM UTC)
📊 Market Commentary
### European Market Commentary: Cautious Session Amid Geopolitical Tensions
European equities traded lower in a subdued session, weighed down by overnight weakness in US markets and escalating geopolitical risks from fresh US sanctions on major Russian oil producers Rosneft and Lukoil. The measures, targeting key energy exporters, rippled through global commodity markets, exacerbating supply concerns for Europe and Asia, particularly as China and India face potential oil disruptions. This added pressure on energy-sensitive sectors, while broader investor sentiment remained risk-averse amid mixed corporate earnings and political uncertainties.
The Euro Stoxx 50 fell 0.84%, reflecting broad-based declines across banking and industrials, as the index mirrored the S&P 500’s 0.53% drop and Nasdaq 100’s sharper 0.99% retreat overnight. Germany’s DAX shed 0.74%, hit by auto and manufacturing exposure, with Renault’s revenue gains from higher car sales and financing providing limited offset amid calls to revive consumer enthusiasm for vehicles. France’s CAC 40 dipped 0.63%, dragged by luxury and tiremakers like Michelin, which flagged persistent US weakness and abandoned its 2026 targets, signaling prolonged headwinds in key export markets. In contrast, the FTSE 100 bucked the trend with a 0.93% gain, buoyed by defensive sectors and sterling resilience, though Lloyds Banking Group’s 40% profit plunge tied to the car finance scandal underscored vulnerabilities in UK financials.
Currency dynamics highlighted dollar strength, with EUR/USD easing 0.12% to test support levels, pressuring exporters as ECB policymakers signal a measured approach to rate cuts amid sticky Eurozone inflation data. GBP/USD held steady at a 0.01% decline, supported by UK political stability, while USD/CHF rose 0.18%, reflecting safe-haven flows into the franc amid global jitters. Broader FX moves, including AUD/USD’s 0.29% uptick, pointed to commodity currency buoyancy despite tariff threats impacting freight firms like DSV, which warned of deeper cost cuts as US policies strain transatlantic trade.
Overnight, Asian markets extended US losses on energy sanction fears, fostering a defensive European open. Political developments, including Argentina’s Milei’s pivotal reforms, added to volatility in emerging-linked assets, while scandals in banking—from a former Citi executive’s jailing in Singapore to internal turmoil at Sequoia Capital—eroded confidence in financial intermediaries. Investors are positioning defensively, favoring bonds and gold
🇪🇺 European Indices Performance
Performance: (Today Last – Yesterday Close) / Yesterday Close × 100
| Index | Price | Daily (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Euro Stoxx 50 | 5639.21 | -0.84 |
| DAX | 24151.13 | -0.74 |
| CAC 40 | 8206.87 | -0.63 |
| FTSE 100 | 9515.00 | +0.93 |
🇺🇸 US Markets (Previous Close)
Performance: (Yesterday – 2 Days Ago) / 2 Days Ago × 100
| Index | Price | Daily (%) |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | 6699.40 | -0.53 |
| Dow Jones | 46590.41 | -0.71 |
| Nasdaq 100 | 24879.01 | -0.99 |
💱 Currency Pairs Performance
Performance: (Today Last – Today Open) / Today Open × 100
| Pair | Price | Daily (%) |
|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 1.16 | -0.12 |
| GBP/USD | 1.34 | -0.01 |
| USD/JPY | 152.55 | +0.43 |
| EUR/GBP | 0.87 | -0.13 |
| USD/CHF | 0.80 | +0.18 |
| AUD/USD | 0.65 | +0.29 |
| USD/CAD | 1.40 | -0.04 |
🛢️ Commodities Performance
Performance: (Close – Previous Close) / Previous Close × 100
| Commodity | Price | Daily (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 4128.70 | +2.08 |
| Silver | 48.55 | +2.28 |
| Crude Oil (WTI) | 60.46 | +3.35 |
| Brent Oil | 64.59 | +3.20 |
| Natural Gas | 3.47 | +0.49 |
₿ Cryptocurrency Performance
Performance: (Close – Previous Close) / Previous Close × 100
| Crypto | Price | Daily (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | 110117.20 | +2.26 |
| Ethereum | 3890.88 | +2.17 |
📅 Today’s Economic Calendar
High and medium importance events. Times in US Eastern Time (ET).
| Date | Time | Cur | Imp | Event | Actual | Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-23 | 01:00 | Medium | Core CPI (YoY) (Sep) | 0.40% | 0.20% | |
| 2025-10-23 | 01:00 | Medium | CPI (YoY) (Sep) | 0.7% | 0.6% | |
| 2025-10-23 | 03:25 | 🇨🇭 | Medium | SNB Monetary Policy Assessment | ||
| 2025-10-23 | 08:30 | 🇺🇸 | Medium | Continuing Jobless Claims | 1,930K | |
| 2025-10-23 | 08:30 | 🇺🇸 | High | Initial Jobless Claims | 223K | |
| 2025-10-23 | 08:30 | 🇨🇦 | Medium | Core Retail Sales (MoM) (Aug) | 1.3% | |
| 2025-10-23 | 08:30 | 🇨🇦 | Medium | Retail Sales (MoM) (Aug) | ||
| 2025-10-23 | 08:30 | 🇨🇦 | Medium | Retail Sales (MoM) (Aug) | 1.0% | |
| 2025-10-23 | 09:30 | 🇪🇺 | Medium | ECB’s Lane Speaks | ||
| 2025-10-23 | 10:00 | 🇺🇸 | High | Existing Home Sales (Sep) | 4.06M | |
| 2025-10-23 | 10:00 | 🇺🇸 | Medium | Existing Home Sales (MoM) (Sep) | ||
| 2025-10-23 | 10:00 | 🇺🇸 | Medium | FOMC Member Bowman Speaks | ||
| 2025-10-23 | 10:25 | 🇺🇸 | Medium | Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Barr Speaks | ||
| 2025-10-23 | 13:00 | 🇺🇸 | Medium | 5-Year TIPS Auction | ||
| 2025-10-23 | 16:30 | 🇺🇸 | Medium | Fed’s Balance Sheet | ||
| 2025-10-23 | 19:30 | 🇯🇵 | Medium | National Core CPI (YoY) (Sep) | 2.9% | |
| 2025-10-23 | 19:30 | 🇯🇵 | Medium | National CPI (MoM) (Sep) | ||
| 2025-10-23 | 20:30 | 🇯🇵 | Medium | au Jibun Bank Services PMI (Oct) |
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