Skyscrapers and commercial buildings on the skyline of the city of London, England, are illuminated on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. British business leaders have called on Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves to ease energy costs and avoid an increase in the tax burden for British businesses as she prepares this year’s budget.
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LONDON — European stock markets started the new trading week in negative territory as investors weighed geopolitical developments in Iran and fresh pressure on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.
pan-european Stocks 600 The London index was down 0.2% by 9:48 a.m. ET, with major exchanges and sectors mostly in the red.
Market players are closely watching developments in Iran this week after widespread protests were met with a violent crackdown by Iranian authorities. US President Donald Trump is considering options for taking action against Iran, according to multiple reports on Sunday.
MS Now and other media outlets, citing U.S. officials, said the president has been presented with potential plans ranging from a possible military attack to actions that don’t involve the military.
Trump’s aides reportedly plan to brief the president on Tuesday on military, cyber and economic measures to carry out his threats.
BE Semiconductor Industries expects fourth-quarter orders to exceed 250 million euros ($292.2 million), up 43% from 174.7 million euros in the third quarter and 105% year-over-year. BESI, which designs and manufactures semiconductor equipment, opened nearly 8% higher on Monday. The Dutch company is scheduled to announce its fourth quarter results next month.
share in heinekenMeanwhile, the stock rose almost 1% in early trading on Monday after CEO and Chairman Dorf van den Brink announced his intention to step down from his role on May 31. The Amsterdam-based beer giant’s supervisory board has announced that it will begin the process of finding a replacement for Van den Brink, who has held the position for almost six years.
share in Abibax The French biotech stock soared 23% on Monday after it reportedly remained the subject of takeover rumors. The stock has since pared its gains, rising 19% in recent trading. The company is up nearly 1,700% over the last year, but has experienced some wild swings over the past week.
In other news, U.S. stock futures fell overnight after President Trump’s attempts to pressure central banks apparently escalated and the Justice Department launched a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.
In a video statement Sunday evening, Chairman Powell acknowledged that federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation in connection with testimony before the Senate Banking Committee regarding renovations to the Fed’s office buildings.
Powell said the investigation was another attempt by Trump to influence the central bank’s monetary policy and that the president would not bow to pressure. His term as chairman is scheduled to end in May.
There are no major earnings or data releases in Europe on Monday.
—CNBC’s Jennifer Elias, John Meloy and Yun Li contributed to this market report.
