European stocks slip as Houthi strikes lift oil ahead of US tech guidance

European shares edged lower in quiet trading on Wednesday, as investors digested a heavy wave of corporate earnings while preparing for pivotal UK inflation data, a crucial European Central Bank policy decision, and high-stakes results from U.S. Big Tech.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 0.4% in early trade, following gains in financial and energy heavyweights countered broader caution across industrial counters.

Germany’s DAX was flat, while France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.1%. Italy’s FTSE MIB fell 0.1%, pressured by banking stocks. 

Sentiment in London was cautious as investors weighed official data from the Office for National Statistics showed UK Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation slowed to 2.6% in June, down from 2.8% in May.

The reading beat consensus forecasts of 2.7%. The drop in price pressures provides a welcome tailwind for newly installed Prime Minister Andy Burnham in his first week in Downing Street, reinforcing market expectations that his administration will maintain strict fiscal discipline alongside a stabilizing domestic inflation picture.

Still, London’s FTSE 100 lost 0.1%.

Earnings took center stage across the continent, with major lenders Banco Santander and UniCredit alongside Norwegian energy producer Equinor among the marquee European names reporting quarterly results.

The results provided a fresh snapshot of regional corporate health amidst elevated interest rates and persistent market volatility, helping stabilize banking and energy shares.

Santander fell 2% after posting second-quarter results.

Oil prices nudged higher after Yemen’s Houthis launched fresh strikes on commercial energy vessels in critical maritime transit routes.

The renewed attacks reinforced geopolitical risk premiums across energy commodities, keeping energy equities supported while raising fresh cost concerns for fuel-dependent sectors ahead of tomorrow’s European Central Bank monetary policy decision.