Europe Stocks Cautious as Fed, Geopolitics, and Earnings Take Center Stage

European equity markets began the new week on a muted and cautious tone, as investors weighed persistent geopolitical tensions, mounting uncertainty ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy meeting, and a heavy slate of global corporate earnings. Market participants remained reluctant to take aggressive positions, preferring a defensive stance while waiting for clearer signals from policymakers and company results.

In early trading, Germany’s DAX rose marginally, the UK’s FTSE 100 posted modest gains, while France’s CAC 40 slipped slightly, highlighting the lack of strong directional conviction across the region.

Geopolitical Tensions Shift from Europe to North America

Although recent fears surrounding a potential trade conflict between the European Union and the United States linked to Greenland have eased, geopolitical risks remain elevated. This time, attention has turned to rising friction between the United States and Canada.

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump warned that Washington could impose tariffs of up to 100% on Canadian goods if Ottawa were to pursue a trade agreement with China. While Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney quickly responded that Canada has no intention of entering a free trade deal with Beijing, the exchange underscored how fragile diplomatic relations remain.

For investors, this renewed tension reinforces concerns that global trade flows could once again become a political weapon, increasing uncertainty for export-driven economies and multinational corporations. Even if Europe is not directly targeted at the moment, any escalation among major Western economies could ripple across global supply chains and financial markets.

German Ifo Data Takes a Back Seat to the Federal Reserve

The main European macroeconomic release of the day is the German Ifo Business Climate Index, which is expected to show a modest improvement in business confidence in the eurozone’s largest economy. A stronger reading would suggest that corporate sentiment in Germany is stabilising after months of subdued activity.

However, the Ifo survey is unlikely to dominate market direction. The real focus is firmly on the U.S. Federal Reserve, which begins its two-day policy meeting and is set to deliver its decision on Wednesday.

Markets overwhelmingly expect the Fed to keep interest rates unchanged following three consecutive rate cuts. Still, investors will scrutinise every word of the accompanying statement and Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference for hints on how soon further easing could come. Any shift in tone toward either renewed tightening or faster cuts could have a powerful impact on global equities, currencies, and bond markets.

Ryanair and S4 Capital Lift the European Corporate Outlook

In corporate news, Ryanair delivered a cautiously optimistic outlook. Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers said its full-year after-tax profit is likely to be about one-third higher than last year. The company also expects average fares to rise more strongly than previously forecast, reflecting resilient travel demand and improved pricing power.

However, the airline reported that third-quarter profit fell sharply compared to last year, weighed down by an €85 million charge related to a fine from Italy’s competition authority. The mixed message shows how regulatory risks and one-off costs can still overshadow otherwise solid operational performance.

Elsewhere, S4 Capital surprised positively by announcing that its 2025 full-year results exceeded both its revised guidance from November and current market expectations. The update provided a boost to confidence in the digital advertising and marketing sector, which has faced pressure from slowing global growth and reduced corporate spending.

Wall Street Earnings in Focus with Tech Giants Reporting

Attention this week is not limited to Europe. Wall Street is preparing for one of the busiest weeks of earnings season, with more than 90 companies in the S&P 500 scheduled to report. Major technology heavyweights including Apple, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft are among the most closely watched.

So far, the earnings season has been broadly encouraging. Data from FactSet shows that around 76% of reporting companies have beaten expectations, suggesting that corporate profitability remains resilient despite higher borrowing costs and geopolitical uncertainty.

For European investors, strong U.S. earnings could provide indirect support by improving global risk sentiment, while any disappointment from tech leaders could quickly drag sentiment lower across international markets.