European Stocks Decline Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions and EasyJet Takeover Speculation
European stocks experienced a downturn as investors reacted to escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, alongside speculation of a potential takeover bid for EasyJet by U.S. investment firm Castlelake. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index closed about 1% lower, with major markets in London, Frankfurt, Paris, and Milan all seeing declines. The tensions arose after Israel's military actions in Lebanon, which led to Iran halting indirect communications with the U.S. and threatening to block the Strait of Hormuz. This geopolitical instability contributed to a significant rise in oil prices, which increased by over 6%. Meanwhile, EasyJet's shares rose by 10% following rumors of a takeover, although the company stated it had not received any formal offer. In contrast, the European tech sector saw gains, buoyed by SoftBank's announcement of a substantial investment in France's AI infrastructure. 
