Shares in Europe are poised to open in mixed territory on Thursday, as the fragile truce agreed between the U.S. and Iran already shows signs ofstrain.
The U.K’s FTSE 100 is set to open 0.4% higher, according to IG futures data, while France’s Cac 40 is on course to open 0.2% lower. Germany’s DAX 0.4% is expected to open lower.
Late on Wednesday, Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf accused the U.S. of violating the ceasefire less than 24 hours after it was agreed. Ghalibaf highlighted Israel’s continued attacks on Lebanon, a drone’s entry into Iranian airspace and the denial of the Islamic Republic’s right to enrich uranium./
U.S. military forces will remain deployed in and around Iran until Tehran fully complies with the “real agreement,” President Donald Trump said Wednesday, warning that any breach would trigger a military response larger than anything seen before.
Asian markets traded lower following the dispute. South Korea’s Kospi was down 1.53%, while the small-cap Kosdaq declined 1.38%.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell by 0.77%, while the Topix was 0.78% lower.
Thursday’s moves follow a particularly strong session in Europe on Wednesday, when the pan-European Stoxx 600 index finished the day 3.7% higher.
Antofagasta, Lufthansa, and Easyjet were among the biggest risers on the day, each gaining around 10%.