Lights on in skyscrapers and industrial buildings on the skyline of the Metropolis of London, UK, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. U.Okay. enterprise chiefs urged Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves to ease vitality prices and keep away from elevating the tax burden on company Britain as she prepares this yr’s funds.
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LONDON — European shares opened the final buying and selling week of the yr in largely flat territory.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up 0.07% shortly after markets opened, hitting an intraday document excessive.
The U.Okay.’s FTSE index opened barely increased, whereas France’s CAC 40, Germany’s DAX and Italy’s FTSE MIB have been barely decrease.
European protection shares have been falling in morning buying and selling following weekend peace talks between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. Shares of Leonardo fell 4.5% whereas Kongsberg, Hensoldt, Rheinmetall and Saab fell about 3%, respectively.
French biotech Abivax was up 4.9% shortly after the open, topping Europe’s blue-chip index. The medical stage drugmaker has been the topic of takeover rumours and optimism in regards to the prospects for its lead asset – a therapy for ulcerative colitis.
Buying and selling volumes could possibly be lighter this week, given the continuing Christmas holidays, and with regional markets set to shut Thursday for New 12 months’s Day.
The prospect of a peace deal for Ukraine earlier than the yr’s out is fading after Trump and Zelenskyy mentioned on Sunday that progress had been made throughout talks to finish the struggle however that “one or two very thorny points” remained.
Oil costs rose as traders weighed the prospects of a deal to finish the struggle in Ukraine.
U.S. crude oil rose 1% to $57.34 a barrel, whereas world benchmark Brent gained 1% to $61.27. Each benchmarks fell about 2% on Friday.
Trump had been concentrating on a peace deal earlier than Christmas, however Ukraine and Russia stay far aside in the case of territorial concessions demanded by Russia and safety ensures coveted by Ukraine.
Talking to reporters following talks in Florida on Sunday, President Zelenskyy mentioned that they had come to an settlement on round “90%” of a 20-point peace plan and that the leaders had absolutely agreed on safety ensures for Ukraine. Trump was barely much less bullish on that entrance, saying an settlement was “near 95%” carried out.
In the meantime, silver climbed above $80 an oz for the primary time early Monday earlier than paring some positive aspects. The dear steel was final seen buying and selling at $75.60 an oz. Gold dropped 1.2% to final commerce at $4,499 an oz.
There are not any main European earnings or information releases on Monday.

