Why it matters
- The STOXX 600 was at about 643.12 around 12:40 GMT on Wednesday, Oct. 21, up 0.70% from Tuesday, and the Euro STOXX 50 was up 1.07%, Yahoo Finance data showed, as corporate earnings supported a rebound after two days of losses, Trading Economics said.
- EssilorLuxottica was up about 15% after third-quarter revenue beat expectations, while Carrefour was down about 14% after cutting its profit forecasts, Yahoo Finance data and Trading Economics showed.
- France's 10-year yield rose above 5%, a 24-year high, and its gap over German Bunds widened to about 160 basis points, Trading Economics said. U.K. inflation rose to 3.5% in September, the ONS said.
Session recap: what happened in this region's trading day, with sources.
European stocks rose on Wednesday, Oct. 21, recovering from two days of losses as U.S. and European corporate earnings supported sentiment, Trading Economics said. The STOXX 600 was at about 643.12 around 12:40 GMT, up 0.70% from Tuesday's close, and the Euro STOXX 50 was up 1.07%, according to Yahoo Finance data.
| Market, about 12:40 GMT | Level | Change vs. Tuesday |
|---|---|---|
| STOXX Europe 600 | 643.12 | +0.70% |
| Euro STOXX 50 | 6,187.30 | +1.07% |
| DAX (Germany) | 25,560.97 | +1.01% |
| FTSE 100 (U.K.) | 10,749.16 | +0.15% |
| CAC 40 (France) | 7,899.20 | +0.77% |
| FTSE MIB (Italy) | 49,498.17 | +0.87% |
| IBEX 35 (Spain) | 19,252.00 | +0.84% |
| AEX (Netherlands) | 1,140.27 | +0.59% |
| SMI (Switzerland) | 14,500.69 | +0.15% |
Source: Yahoo Finance chart data. Levels are intraday, delayed and approximate; changes are from Tuesday, Oct. 20, closes.
Why are European stocks rising today?
Investors focused on quarterly results, including U.S. reports from SpaceX and 3M, Trading Economics said. Solid U.S. tech earnings eased concerns about stretched AI valuations, it said in its France report. Around 12:40 GMT, ASML was up about 2.2% and SAP about 2.0% ahead of its results after the U.S. close, Yahoo Finance data showed. In Frankfurt, Adidas was up about 2.6% after raising its full-year earnings forecast on record quarterly sales, Trading Economics said.
The bounce followed Tuesday's tech-led losses; see our Europe Tuesday recap.
Which stocks are moving in Paris?
EssilorLuxottica was up about 15% around 12:40 GMT, Yahoo Finance data showed, after the Ray-Ban maker beat third-quarter revenue expectations on resilient eyewear demand, Trading Economics said. Carrefour was down about 14% after the retailer lowered its profit forecasts and cut spending plans, citing domestic unrest and an energy price shock, it said. Michelin was down about 5.8% after lower nine-month sales as tire volumes declined.
Finance Minister Roland Lescure said he was confident France would pass next year's budget, Trading Economics reported.
How is the FTSE 100 trading after the U.K. inflation report?
The FTSE 100 was up about 0.15% around 12:40 GMT, Yahoo Finance data showed, after trading lower earlier as hotter inflation and higher government borrowing weighed, Trading Economics said. U.K. consumer price inflation rose to 3.5% in the 12 months to September from 3.1% in August, the Office for National Statistics said.
What are bonds and currencies doing?
France's 10-year yield rose above 5%, a new 24-year high, on concern about public finances and social unrest, and the spread over German Bunds widened to about 160 basis points, its widest since the euro-area debt crisis, Trading Economics said. Investors await Moody's credit rating review of France on Friday. Germany's 10-year Bund yield held just above 3.4% on safe-haven demand, it said.
The euro was at about $1.1236 and the pound at about $1.3400 around 12:53 GMT, Yahoo Finance data showed.
What comes next for European markets?
The ECB holds its next policy meeting Oct. 28-29. Asia's session is in our Asia Wednesday recap, U.S. futures and earnings are in our day-ahead guide, 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
- Office for National Statistics, Consumer price inflation, UK: September 2026 (Oct. 21, 2026)
- Trading Economics, Euro area stock market
- Trading Economics, U.K. stock market (FTSE 100)
- Trading Economics, France stock market (CAC 40)
- Trading Economics, Germany stock market (DAX)
- Trading Economics, France 10-year bond yield and Germany 10-year bond yield
- European Central Bank, Meetings of the Governing Council
- Yahoo Finance, chart data for the STOXX Europe 600, Euro STOXX 50, DAX, FTSE 100, CAC 40, FTSE MIB, IBEX 35, AEX, SMI, EssilorLuxottica, Carrefour, Michelin, Adidas, SAP, ASML, EUR/USD and GBP/USD