Europe – European stocks ended the last trading session of 2025 with mixed results. This came amid quiet trading and a shortened session due to the Christmas holidays. Investors remained cautious as markets prepared to close on Thursday.
Key indicators performance
European indices saw slight movements in Wednesday’s session, with the figures as follows:
The Stoxx 600 (European pan-European) index fell by 0.1% to 591.69 points.
FTSE 100 (UK) index: declined by approximately 0.1% to close at 9923.12 points.
The CAC 40 index (French) recorded the largest decline among its peers, falling by 0.5% to 8125.74 points.
The DAX (German) index bucked the downward trend, rising by 0.5% to reach a record high of 24490.41 points.
The defense sector continues to soar
Across sectors, defense companies emerged as the biggest gainers for the second consecutive day. Shares of SAP, RENEC, and Rheinmetall rose between 2% and 3%. This was supported by increased orders and the global geopolitical tensions that characterized 2025.
Fluctuations in mining and precious metals
The mining sector saw mixed performance. Fresnillo was the worst-performing stock, falling 3.5% after a strong rally on Tuesday. In contrast, major companies like Anglo American and Glencore maintained their gains with minimal declines.
In the metals market, safe-haven assets came under selling pressure towards the end of the year. Silver futures fell 8.1%, while gold declined 1.1% at the start of the session. This came amid portfolio repositioning for 2026.
Global Scene
Wall Street: US stock futures were flat with no significant changes, as investors prepared to close out the year.
Asia: Hong Kong and Australian markets closed early and lower, while markets in Japan and South Korea remained closed for the holiday.
Note to investors: European markets will be closed tomorrow, Thursday (January 1, 2026), for the New Year holiday. They will officially reopen on Friday.
