European stocks rebounded on Thursday after three consecutive days of declines, with the pan-European STOXX 600 index gaining 1% to 646.15 by 0710 GMT, according to Reuters. The index had touched a one-month low in the previous session before the recovery. Regional markets showed mixed performance, with Germany's DAX rising 0.1% and Spain's benchmark index adding 0.3%, while France's CAC 40 slipped 0.1%. The recovery came as a global selloff in government bonds showed signs of easing, providing relief to equity markets that had been under pressure from rising Treasury yields.
Technip Energies has moved higher following reports of potential involvement in a $10 billion SpaceX contract related to fuel production facilities. As reported by Investing.com India, the project involves liquid hydrogen and liquefied natural gas, with Technip Energies among the candidates due to its technology and existing US presence. The stock had been showing accumulation around €30 before the latest move and has now filled a bearish gap from several weeks ago. The project is expected to involve liquid hydrogen and liquefied natural gas, with Technip Energies reportedly among the candidates because of its technology and existing US presence. The contract could ultimately be awarded to one company or shared among several. The key question is whether the SpaceX contract is actually confirmed, as a positive outcome could potentially begin a longer-term bullish phase.
Volkswagen AG has been added to the ProPicks portfolio for Germany, presenting an unusual valuation proposition. According to Investing.com India, the company has a market capitalization of roughly €41 billion with cash also around €41 billion, while its P/E ratio is approximately 8. The stock found support around €69 and has begun building a more positive structure with significant buying volume and a series of failed attempts to break lower. The company has a market capitalization of roughly €41 billion, while cash is also around €41 billion, with its P/E ratio at approximately 8. The stock found support around €69 and has since begun to build a more positive structure. There was significant buying volume around that level, followed by a series of failed attempts to break lower. The company's July 24 results helped reignite the stock, and since then it has been moving within a rising channel. The combination of accumulation above €69 and an unusually low valuation makes Volkswagen one of the more interesting European auto names to watch, though the thesis still depends on the company avoiding a much more severe deterioration in profitability.
Viridien has received a fresh boost from Goldman Sachs reinstating a Buy rating, while TotalEnergies continues benefiting from higher oil prices. As reported by Investing.com India, Viridien has evolved toward a technology-focused business built around subsurface imaging and services, with the stock generating a buy signal on July 31. The company has evolved toward a more technology- and research-focused business built around subsurface imaging and services for oil and gas companies. The stock previously generated a buy signal on July 31 and has started to recover again. Goldman Sachs recently reinstated a Buy rating, providing another catalyst for the move. Viridien had also shown accumulation around €76 after an earlier break. The stock remains below its 100-day moving average at €108, so there is still work to do before the broader technical structure becomes convincingly bullish. A move above €110 could open the way toward approximately €130 over the following weeks. Energy markets remain elevated following US military strikes against Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, actions President Trump described as direct retaliation for Tehran's attempts to place sea mines in the vital waterway and an earlier attack on a US military base. Oil prices eased on Thursday but remained above $90 a barrel, while euro zone government bonds retreated from recent highs, though concerns over persistent inflation and rising government debt continue to weigh on markets.
Among individual stocks, Deutsche Telekom rose 1.7% following reports that activist investor Elliott had built a stake in the telecommunications company, according to Reuters. French semiconductor materials maker Soitec jumped 10% after raising its second-quarter and full-year outlook, citing stronger demand for wafers used in optical links for AI data centres. Investors are now awaiting Friday's U.S. non-farm payrolls report for further indications of the Federal Reserve's policy direction. As reported by Reuters, hawkish comments from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh last week had prompted traders to increase their expectations of further interest-rate hikes, making the upcoming labour-market data particularly important for financial markets. The upcoming data will provide crucial insights into the Federal Reserve's monetary policy outlook, with markets currently assigning a modestly higher probability to further Federal Reserve tightening.
