April 1 (Reuters) – Futures tracking main stock indexes in Europe jumped more than 2% each on Wednesday as U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments that the month-long conflict in the Middle East could come to an imminent end offered some relief to investors.
Futures tracking the pan-European STOXX 600 index jumped 2.78% at 0643 GMT, with contracts tracking Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 index up 2.7% and 2%, respectively.
Investor sentiment globally perked up after Trump said the end of the war on Iran could be near, with Washington signalling potential for both direct talks with Tehran’s leadership and a winding down of the conflict even without a deal.
“We’ll be leaving very soon,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday, saying the exit could take place “within two weeks, maybe two weeks, maybe three.”
Energy prices fell 3%, with Brent futures now hovering at $100 a barrel.
European shares have been under massive pressure since the U.S. and Israel began airstrikes on Iran on February 28 due to the continent’s heavy reliance on oil imports through the largely blocked-off Strait of Hormuz.
The STOXX index had fallen more than 10% from its record high at one point earlier in March, and finished the month with losses that were its biggest since June 2022.
Shares of sportswear makers in Europe such as Adidas and Puma will be in focus after dour forecasts from U.S.-based Nike.
(Reporting by Avinash P and Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru)
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