European stocks rise as bank, tech shares gain despite Nasdaq 100 futures drop amid Nvidia probe

European stocks experienced an increase on Monday, driven by banks following strong earnings reports and a potential merger. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index rose by 0.4% at 8:25 am London time. UniCredit shares surged 4.5%, while Banco BPM jumped 9.4% after Credit Agricole proposed a merger with its Italian branches. Despite a decline in Nasdaq 100 futures, tech stocks in Europe also rose due to uncertainty surrounding the Nasdaq’s performance.

Strategist Joachim Klement of Panmure Liberum noted that without significant macro or earnings news, European markets would likely follow the direction set by the US market upon its opening. Brent crude oil prices fell to $96.33 a barrel, marking the largest weekly decline since April 2020, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed the progress made in talks with Iran.

US President Donald Trump hinted at limited further strikes if negotiations with Iran advance, and Houthi missiles damaged Saudi Aramco's offices in Riyadh on Sunday. Citigroup strategists lowered US equities and global tech valuations while raising the European market's outlook, attributing the shift to factors like crowded positions, slowing earnings growth, and concerns over artificial intelligence spending creating a vulnerable market to near-term volatility.