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European Stocks Gain on Upbeat Corporate Updates
31 Jul
Summary
- European stocks rise 0.3% as trade worries ease
- Societe Generale boosts annual profit target, shares jump 7%
- Shell beats Q2 profit expectations, maintains buybacks
On July 31, 2025, European stocks gained ground, with the pan-European Stoxx 600 index rising 0.3% by the morning. The market's upward momentum was driven by a series of upbeat corporate updates, which helped offset concerns over the latest tariff announcements from U.S. President Donald Trump.
The banking sector was a standout performer, with Euro zone banks adding 1% to their value. This was largely due to Societe Generale, the French lender, which raised its annual profit target, sending its shares up by 7%. Other financial institutions, such as Standard Chartered and BBVA, also reported mixed results for the first half of the year.
In the energy sector, Shell, the oil and gas giant, gained 2.9% after beating profit expectations for the second quarter and maintaining its share buyback program. Rival BP also saw a marginal increase in its stock price.
However, not all corporate news was positive. Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest beer company, shed 10.2% after reporting a decline in volumes, particularly in China and Brazil.
Investors remained cautiously optimistic, with the Stoxx 600 index on track to end the month 1.6% higher. This was driven by easing trade tensions, better-than-expected economic data from the U.S. and Europe, and largely upbeat earnings reports from major companies.
