TLDR
- European stock markets rose on Wednesday, with the STOXX 600 up 0.7% after a two-day slump.
- Germany’s DAX and London’s FTSE 100 each gained 0.7% during the session.
- Tech and semiconductor equipment stocks led gains after U.S. President Donald Trump backed voluntary AI safety standards.
- Trump also confirmed support for faster data center expansion, easing worries about spending cuts in the tech sector.
- Despite Wednesday’s gains, the STOXX 600 is set to end September down about 2%, its first monthly drop in six months.
European stock markets moved higher on Wednesday. The gains came as investors looked ahead to a busy schedule of economic data releases from both Europe and the United States.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.7%. This ended a two-day period where the index had barely moved.
Germany’s DAX and London’s FTSE 100 each climbed 0.7% during the trading session. The STOXX 50 also rose, gaining 0.5% and reaching a three-week high.
Tech Stocks Lead The Rebound
Technology and semiconductor equipment companies were among the top gainers. This followed news from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said that leading tech executives had agreed to voluntary safety standards for artificial intelligence development.
🇺🇸 BIG MOVE: Is the future of AI now in the hands of the US?
An official pact has just been SIGNED by Trump and the leaders of xAI, Meta, Nvidia, Google, Anthropic and OpenAI.
Here's what the official document says:
Put strong controls on their models to watch for cyber, bio… https://t.co/6NOo8RkUsq pic.twitter.com/585QcP32gT
— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) September 29, 2026
Trump also repeated his support for building more data centers quickly. This eased concerns among investors that companies might cut back on spending after some AI model training pauses at OpenAI.
Hardware suppliers and energy providers benefited most from this news. Investors had worried that new rules might slow down data center growth, but Trump’s comments reduced that concern.
Shares of ASML rose 0.8%. Novartis gained 1.1%, while Airbus and Safran rose 1.3% and 1.2%.
Not every company saw gains. TotalEnergies shares fell 1% as the energy sector moved into negative territory for the day.
Investors Watch Inflation Data Closely
Beyond the tech sector, traders are focused on a full slate of economic reports. These include German retail sales figures for August and German employment data.
French inflation numbers and September German inflation data are also due later in the day. These figures will help investors understand pricing trends across the region.
In the United States, attention is on the August Personal Consumption Expenditures price index. This is the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation.
Economists expect the index to show that price pressures stayed the same as the previous month. An unchanged reading would be welcome news for stock sectors that are sensitive to interest rates.
U.S. Treasury yields have been sitting near multi-decade highs. A steady inflation reading could support the idea that the Federal Reserve does not need to raise rates further than markets already expect.
Traders are also watching for comments from European Central Bank official Frank Elderson later in the session. His remarks may offer new information about the growth outlook for the eurozone.
September Ends With Losses For The Month
Despite Wednesday’s gains, September has been a difficult month for European stocks overall. The STOXX 600 is on track to end the month down close to 2%.
This would mark the index’s first monthly decline in six months. The drop follows a summer period of gains for European markets.
A mix of factors weighed on stocks this month. These include rising government bond yields, higher energy costs, and ongoing friction in the artificial intelligence sector.
Energy prices have climbed again this month. This is partly due to a lack of progress in talks between the United States and Iran, which has added to inflation worries.
Looking at the third quarter as a whole, the STOXX 50 is little changed. The STOXX 600 is down 0.6% for the same period.
Stop guessing and start investing with confidence. KnockoutStocks gives you the AI insights, market intelligence, and stock research you need to spot opportunities, cut through the noise, and make smarter investment decisions — all in one powerful platform.
Sign up today and get 50% OFF full access to our premium stock picks.
Simply use coupon code SPECIAL50 at checkout to claim your exclusive discount.
Get 3 Free Stock Ebooks
Discover top-performing stocks in AI, Crypto, and Technology with expert analysis.
- Top 10 AI Stocks - Leading AI companies
- Top 10 Crypto Stocks - Blockchain leaders
- Top 10 Tech Stocks - Tech giants
