European stocks on course for best week since Aug on easing yields

European stock markets experienced a strong week, with the benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 Index reaching near its highest levels in almost two weeks. The pan-European index gained 0.5% on Friday, extending momentum from the previous session. France's CAC 40 rose 0.3%, marking a 1.7% weekly advance, only its second such gain in the last 10 weeks. Germany's DAX increased nearly 1%, while London's FTSE 100 remained flat.

The positive market sentiment was driven by bargain hunters returning to rate-sensitive tech shares following a temporary easing in global bond yields. Europe's relatively low exposure to the artificial intelligence (AI) sector and lower valuations provided some insulation from rising global yields. Defense shares rallied as European leaders gathered in Brussels to support Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, with Rheinmetall, Leonardo SpA, and Thales leading the gains.

Global tech bourses had been volatile during the previous session due to concerns surrounding AI capital expenditure and leverage, triggered by reports about cloud provider CoreWeave's $50 billion debt pile. However, as U.S. and European sovereign yields decreased from recent multi-decade peaks, investors stepped in to support battered growth names.

Despite the strong weekly finish, analysts cautioned that European equities face an uncertain road ahead as the third-quarter corporate earnings season begins. Heavyweights in technology, industrials, and banking are expected to report over the coming weeks, potentially creating multi-asset volatility as investors assess whether earnings growth can offset high borrowing costs.