European stocks moved higher on Friday, with the STOXX 50 gaining 0.5% and the STOXX 600 rising 0.3%, following losses in the previous sessions that pushed both benchmarks to July-lows. The gains came as oil prices edged lower, although tensions in the Middle East remained elevated. Banking stocks were among the top performers, with Banco Santander rising 1.3% and BBVA gaining 1%. Industrial and aerospace stocks also advanced, led by Airbus (+1.6%), Safran (+2.0%) and Siemens (+1.1%). SAP, however, fell 1.6%. Despite Friday’s rebound, European equities posted a sharp weekly decline. The STOXX 50 fell 1.9% over the week, while the STOXX 600 dropped 2.2%, marking their biggest weekly losses since April. Rising energy costs have fueled concerns about a renewed pickup in inflation, increasing pressure on central banks to maintain a tighter monetary policy. The ECB raised borrowing costs by 25bps yesterday, as expected. Markets are now pricing in three additional rate hikes by March 2027.