Despite lingering concerns about U.S.-Iran tensions, European markets closed higher on Thursday as oil prices fell on news about Lebanon and Israel agreeing to implement a ceasefire aided sentiment, prompting investors to pick up stocks.
While news about Lebanon and Israel agreeing to implement ceasefire is likely to aid sentiment, concerns about the ongoing tensions in the Middle East due to strikes by U.S. and Iranian forces weighed a bit.
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May 22, 2026 14:46 ET Minutes of the latest Fed policy session was the highlight of the week along with survey data on the U.S. housing market. In Europe, survey data signaled the trends in the euro area private sector. Further, consumer price inflation data from the U.K. was in focus. In Asia, various economic indicators from China drew attention to the health of the economy.