European shares rise as Gulf markets diverge and Johannesburg opens flat

European shares opened higher on Wednesday, with banks and technology stocks lifting the Stoxx Europe 600 by 0.6% in early trading. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark reversed an initial decline as Saudi Aramco advanced, while Qatar fell 1%. South Africa’s FTSE/JSE All Share index opened flat and the rand held steady against the US dollar.

Banks and technology lift Europe
Germany’s DAX rose 1.1% in early trading, helped by a 6.7% jump in Siemens Energy. France’s CAC 40 gained 0.75%, with industrial group Schneider Electric up 3.6% and chipmaker STMicroelectronics rising about 3.7%. In London, the FTSE 100 advanced 0.8% as mining shares gained, including a 4.1% rise in copper producer Antofagasta.

The gains followed a 0.27% rise in the Stoxx Europe 600 on Tuesday, when falling oil prices and hopes of easing tensions in the Middle East supported European shares.

Saudi shares recover as Qatar falls
Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index turned 0.4% higher after an early dip, with Saudi Aramco up 0.9%. Abu Dhabi’s benchmark edged up 0.1%, while Dubai’s main index was little changed. In Doha, Qatar National Bank fell 0.8%, weighing on the Qatari benchmark.

Gulf investors were weighing hopes of a pause in the war involving Iran against reports of attacks on tankers and energy infrastructure. The risk of disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remained a concern for regional markets.

Johannesburg opens flat and the rand holds steady
The FTSE/JSE All Share index opened at 114,693.44, unchanged from Tuesday’s close, when it fell 0.3%. Precious metals and mining shares had been among the weakest performers on Tuesday, with the sector index down 3.2%.

The rand traded near R16.51 to the US dollar early on Wednesday. It held broadly steady even as stronger-than-expected US inflation and remarks from Federal Reserve officials supported the dollar and raised expectations of a US rate increase next month.

NewsHub Finance | Markets | 11 November 2026