16.02.202608:42:10UTC+00European Stocks Edge Higher in Quiet Trade

European equities edged higher in thin trading on Monday, rebounding after two sessions of declines from record highs, as investors weighed concerns over AI-driven disruption against an unusually strong earnings season. The Stoxx 50 rose 0.4% to 6,010 points, while the broader Stoxx 600 added 0.2% to 619 points.

Just over 60% of European companies have so far beaten profit expectations, well above the typical quarterly average of around 54%, offering solid support to the market. No major earnings are due on Monday, but attention in the coming days will turn to results from Euronext, Orange, Airbus, Moncler and Repsol, along with Europe’s largest mining groups — Rio Tinto, Glencore, Anglo American and Antofagasta.

Beyond earnings, investors will be watching UK labour-market data and inflation figures later this week, as well as the release of the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting minutes, which could provide further guidance on the monetary policy outlook.