European stocks failed to hold early gains on Wednesday as the mood turned cautious around mid-afternoon and investors assessed news about U.S.-Iran peace efforts and stayed largely reluctant to make significant moves in the final hour.
Weak oil prices helped lift sentiment. Brent crude futures fell below $98 a barrel after reports emerged that some LNG tankers have passed through the Strait of Hormuz in recent days, helping ease supply concerns amid prolonged West Asia conflict.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Market Analysis
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.