European stocks: STOXX 600 index gains 0.2% on Friday
Europe's main stock index, the STOXX 600, edged up 0.2% on Friday after a tough week, still down nearly 4.6% for the week and facing its worst weekly performance in nearly a year.
The index tracks a broad cross-section of European companies (large, mid and small caps) and is a go-to for investors using ETFs and derivatives.
Investors are keenly awaiting European Central Bank's interest rate guidance
If you're interested in how global events shake up markets, this is one to watch. The source does not report year-to-date performance for 2026.
Investors are now waiting to hear from top European Central Bank leaders later today to get a sense of where interest rates might be headed next.
Roche and Zealand Pharma face sharp drops
Tensions in the Middle East have made investors nervous, leading to sharp drops, especially in healthcare stocks like Roche and Zealand Pharma, with Roche slipping 1.7% while Zealand Pharma plunged 31.2% after reporting mid-stage study data on an experimental obesity drug.
On the flip side, defense stocks helped cushion some of those losses, and Lufthansa shares jumped after strong results.
Upcoming changes to the index
The source does not report any upcoming index changes or specify a March 23 date.