Live Markets: Biding time

Royal Unibrew A/S

21/04/2026 09:03

Adds new blog entry

STOXX 600 up 0.1%

Tech leads, defence stocks lower

Iran ceasefire set to end, talks awaited

Crest Nicholson plunges after warning

Wall St futures higher

Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at markets.research@thomsonreuters.com

BIDING TIME

Markets are in wait-and-see mode on Tuesday before possible peace talks between the U.S. and Iran later in the week, as significant hurdles remained and the end of the two-week truce loomed.

A Pakistani source involved in the discussions told Reuters things were moving forward and the talks were on track for Wednesday, but there remains differences about Iran's nuclear programme and the Strait of Hormuz.

Still, European equity investors are reluctant to make any big moves. The STOXX 600 is up 0.1% on the day after dropping 0.8% on Monday following weekend disruptions in the Gulf that had put peace negotiations in doubt.

     Germany's DAX .GDAXI is up 0.6%, Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE is up 0.1% and France's CAC 40 .FCHI is flat.

Europe's biggest mover is British homebuilder Crest Nicholson CRST.L, which warned about a hit to volumes due to economic uncertainty from the war in the Middle East. The company's stock has fallen over 40% to a record low and is on track for its largest ever daily drop.

 Shares in Denmark's Royal Unibrew RBREW.CO are also falling sharply after its partnership with PepsiCo PEP.O in Northern Europe was not renewed.

Here's your opening snapshot:

(Samuel Indyk)

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EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS

EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: OPTIMISTIC MARKETS CLICK HERE

MARKETS LONG FOR PEACE, PREPARE FOR WARSH CLICK HERE

Where experts think the Fed is headed https://www.reuters.com/graphics/AUTOMATED-20260421/BENCHMARK-FED-RATE-ECONOMIST-POLL-OUTLOOK/myvmyxzmnvr/chart.png

European shares mixed, Iran updates awaited https://www.reuters.com/graphics/GLOBAL-STOCKS/xmvjyezyjpr/chart.png