European Stocks Close Higher as Retail Sector Leads Gains


Doha: European stocks closed higher at the end of Tuesday’s trading: European stocks experienced a positive finish, led by retail stocks, as selling pressures eased following a significant decline in the global market caused by a low-cost artificial intelligence model developed by Chinese technology startup DeepSeek.



According to Qatar News Agency, the European Stoxx 600 index saw an increase of 0.4 percent, with retail stocks at the forefront of sector gains, rising by 2.1 percent. Notably, shares of JD Sports, Kingfisher, and Howden Joinery rose between 1.3 percent and 3.2 percent, contributing to the sector’s overall performance.



In the technology sector, the European technology stock index posted a modest rise of 0.3 percent. The shares of Alten Group, specializing in engineering and technology consultancy, led the gains with a significant jump of 7.7 percent following the announcement of its annual results. On the contrary, stocks associated with artificial intelligence saw a downturn, with ASM shares falling 3.7 percent and Schneider Electric declining by 7.5 percent.



Meanwhile, Sartorius experienced a notable increase of 11.5 percent, leading the STOXX. Siemens Energy also reported positive performance, with shares rising 7.5 percent. This came after the offshore wind turbine maker revealed preliminary first-quarter revenue figures that surpassed market expectations, following a significant 20 percent drop the previous Monday. The company, known for providing electrical equipment for artificial intelligence infrastructure, had faced challenges earlier in the week.