Why it matters
- The STOXX 600 was at about 657.09 around 13:40 GMT on Wednesday, Nov. 4, up 1.77% from Tuesday, Yahoo Finance data showed. STOXX futures had been down as much as 1.4% earlier, Reuters reported.
- Banks and clean-energy stocks led after Democrats won both chambers of Congress, according to CBS News projections. Santander rose about 5.6%, UniCredit 5.5% and Orsted 5.3%, Yahoo Finance data showed.
- Euro-area inflation rose to 4.0% in October from 3.8%, Eurostat's flash estimate showed, with energy prices up 20.8% from a year earlier.
Session recap: what happened in this region's trading day, with sources.
European stocks rallied on Wednesday, Nov. 4, after the U.S. midterm elections. The STOXX 600 was at about 657.09 around 13:40 GMT, up 1.77% from Tuesday's close, according to Yahoo Finance data. Banks and clean-energy shares led the gains, Reuters reported, after CBS News projected that Democrats would win control of both the House and the Senate.
| Market, about 13:40 GMT | Level | Day |
|---|---|---|
| STOXX Europe 600 | 657.09 | +1.77% |
| Euro STOXX 50 | 6,268.53 | +2.02% |
| DAX (Germany) | 26,368.19 | +1.95% |
| FTSE 100 (U.K.) | 10,830.75 | +1.81% |
| CAC 40 (France) | 8,190.28 | +2.12% |
| FTSE MIB (Italy) | 51,129.35 | +2.38% |
| IBEX 35 (Spain) | 19,403.10 | +3.17% |
Source: Yahoo Finance chart data. Levels are intraday, delayed and approximate; changes are from Tuesday, Nov. 3, closes.
Why are European stocks up today?
STOXX futures fell as much as 1.4% early, then recovered as Democratic wins were confirmed and investors were reassured that President Donald Trump accepted the results, Reuters reported. The index was up nearly 1% by 09:27 GMT and kept climbing through the day, Yahoo Finance data showed.
The Euro STOXX banks index was the top sector, up nearly 4% in the morning, as investors rotated into domestically focused lenders, Reuters said. Analysts told Reuters the result could limit the U.S. administration's ability to impose requirements or sanctions on European banks.
Which European stocks are moving?
Lenders led. Santander was up about 5.6%, UniCredit 5.5%, Intesa Sanpaolo 5.1% and BNP Paribas 5.1% around 13:44 GMT, Yahoo Finance data showed. Heidelberg Materials jumped about 10.0% after higher-than-expected third-quarter sales, and Continental rose about 5.8% after raising its 2026 profitability outlook, Reuters reported.
Clean-energy stocks also rallied. SMA Solar was up about 7.8%, Nordex 6.5%, Orsted 5.3% and Vestas 3.3%, Yahoo Finance data showed. Reuters said the sector had borne the brunt of the Trump administration's policies.
Novo Nordisk rose about 4.4% after its third-quarter adjusted operating profit beat expectations and it raised its full-year sales and profit forecasts, Reuters reported. Third-quarter sales were 79.2 billion kroner against 73.6 billion expected, CNBC said.
Some tech and industrial names lagged as investors weighed possible stricter AI oversight, Reuters said. ASML was down about 2.8%, Siemens Energy 3.9% and Schneider Electric 1.6%, Yahoo Finance data showed. Rheinmetall fell about 1.0%; defense was the weakest sector in the morning, Reuters said.
Why is the FTSE 100 up today?
Banks lifted London too. HSBC was up about 4.7% and Barclays 4.6%, Yahoo Finance data showed, while BP and Shell were about flat as oil fell. The Bank of England announces its rate decision, with its Monetary Policy Report, on Thursday, Nov. 5, the bank's calendar shows.
What is moving inflation, bonds and currencies?
Euro-area annual inflation is expected to be 4.0% in October, up from 3.8% in September, Eurostat's flash estimate showed. Energy had the highest annual rate at 20.8%, up from 18.9%, and services inflation rose to 3.3% from 3.2%.
Germany's 10-year Bund yield was little changed at about 3.31%, Trading Economics said. The euro was at about $1.1265 and the pound at about $1.3487 around 13:55 GMT, both up about 0.6% from Tuesday, Yahoo Finance data showed. January Brent was at about $101.23 around 13:45 GMT, down 2.3% from Tuesday's $103.60 settlement.
What comes next for European markets?
Asia's session is in our Asia Wednesday recap, and U.S. futures, the election results and today's data are in our day-ahead guide. Tuesday's session is in our Europe Tuesday recap, and live levels are on the markets page.
Follow the rest of the trading day on our global market today page, with the latest Asia, Europe and Americas session recaps.
Sources
- Reuters via Euronext, European shares rise as Democrats take US Congress, Novo Nordisk surges (Nov. 4, 2026)
- CNBC, Dow futures soar 1,000 points as big midterm wins by Democrats remove political uncertainty risk on Wall Street: Live updates (Nov. 4, 2026)
- CBS News, House election results 2026 and Senate election results 2026 (Nov. 4, 2026)
- Eurostat, Euro area annual inflation up to 4.0% (Nov. 4, 2026)
- Trading Economics, Germany 10-year Bund yield
- Bank of England, upcoming MPC dates
- Yahoo Finance, chart data for the STOXX 600, Euro STOXX 50, DAX, FTSE 100, CAC 40, FTSE MIB, IBEX 35, Santander, UniCredit, Intesa Sanpaolo, BNP Paribas, Heidelberg Materials, Continental, SMA Solar, Nordex, Orsted, Vestas, Novo Nordisk, ASML, Siemens Energy, Schneider Electric, Rheinmetall, HSBC, Barclays, BP, Shell, January Brent, EUR/USD and GBP/USD