Ibex 35 Opens Higher After Modest Gain, European Markets Mixed, Oil Retreats

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Ibex 35 kicked off Thursday by inching higher, gaining 0.1 percent and edging toward a fresh level around 8626 points. At 9:01 am, traders were weighing the ongoing developments in Ukraine as they assessed the session’s early moves.

Following a 0.46 percent gain to close the previous session, the Madrid index opened above the psychologically important 8500-point mark. The board traded on a holiday for many in the country, which gave the day a lighter, more buoyant mood even as investors kept a close eye on geopolitics and domestic data.

In the early minutes of today’s trades, several notable decliners stood out. Caixabank slipped three point one five percent, Mapfre fell nearly half a percent, Siemens Gamesa decreased about half a percent, Telefónica slipped three quarters of a percent, and Merlín Properties posted a small decline. Acciona also traded lower, while PharmaMar yielded a modest percentage. On the upside, the leaders among the select few showed firm momentum with Bankinter rising one point four three percent, ArcelorMittal advancing about one point five seven percent, and IAG climbing roughly one point six six percent.

Across the rest of Europe, trading opened with a broadly positive tone in major markets: Paris posted a gain around three tenths of a percent, and Frankfurt advanced about one fifth of a percent, while London traded with a negative hint, slipping around four tenths of a percent.

Commodity markets showed Brent crude easing about one point two four percent to hover near one hundred seven dollars and forty cents per barrel. The North American benchmark, WTI, also declined about one point four four percent, settling near one hundred two dollars and seventy seven cents per barrel. These movements reflect the ongoing balance between supply concerns and demand expectations amid global economic uncertainty.

Meanwhile, currency markets reflected a steady tone as the euro hovered near the dollar, with the euro trading around one point zero nine one four, and the broader risk sentiment shaping fixed-income flows. Spain’s 10-year government bond yielded about one and seven eighths percent, while the country’s risk premium stood close to ninety one point nine basis points on the day, signaling cautious optimism among investors about the relative risk environment.

Market participants continued to monitor earnings calendars, central bank commentary, and geopolitical headlines, all of which can quickly tilt short-term sentiment. The day’s trading pattern suggests investors are weighing the potential for tactical rotations within regions and sectors, alongside the macro backdrop that includes energy prices, inflation expectations, and the trajectory of global growth. Analysts note that liquidity levels, seasonal effects from holiday periods, and hedging considerations may also influence how these early moves unfold over the session.

From a technical standpoint, traders will be watching key support and resistance levels as the index tests the 8600–8650 range. Any sustained break beyond those bounds could signal a continuation of the current uptrend or a reassessment of risk, especially if macro data releases or geopolitical headlines intensify. As the day progresses, market microstructure, including order flow and intraday volatility, is likely to shape the tape for traders seeking to capitalize on short-term volatility while maintaining a balanced view of longer-term fundamentals.

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