Le azioni europee scendono a causa dell'aumento delle tensioni in Medio Oriente e del calo dei profitti di Ryanair

European shares fell on Monday as escalating tensions between the United States and Iran sent oil prices surging, while Ryanair's disappointing earnings triggered a broader sell-off across the airline sector. The turmoil in the Middle East disrupted key shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping traffic nearly ground to a halt. Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi rebels issued threats against another vital maritime corridor, further heightening regional instability. Oil prices briefly climbed above $90 per barrel, marking their highest level since late June, as markets braced for potential supply disruptions. In Dublin, the Iseq All-Share index closed down 0.8 percent, reflecting investor unease over both geopolitical risks and corporate performance. Ryanair led the decline, dropping 4.6 percent to €24.78. The airline’s net profit fell 34 percent compared to the previous quarter, failing to meet analysts' expectations. This underperformance, combined with the rise in oil prices, weighed heavily on sentiment. Banking stocks, however, saw some relief, with AIB gaining 1.3 percent to €10.39 and Bank of Ireland climbing 1.7 percent to €17.59. Investors speculated that central banks might soon raise interest rates, citing inflationary pressures exacerbated by the ongoing Middle East crisis. The European Central Bank is scheduled to meet later this week, with markets anticipating it will maintain current interest rates. However, traders are increasingly betting on at least one 0.25 percentage-point hike before the year ends. In contrast, homebuilders faced pressure, with Cairn Homes losing 0.8 percent to €2.46 and Glenveagh Properties falling 1.7 percent to €2.35. These declines reflected concerns over slowing housing demand amid broader economic uncertainty. In London, the FTSE 100 index dropped 0.7 percent, mirroring the broader European trend. The political shift with Andy Burnham assuming the role of the UK’s seventh prime minister in a decade received limited attention amid the backdrop of global volatility. Burnham outlined plans to introduce new economic policies aimed at addressing public frustration with frequent leadership changes. His government is expected to unveil immediate measures to alleviate financial burdens on ordinary citizens. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology stocks also struggled, with AstraZeneca, the second-largest UK-listed company by market value, losing 1.7 percent. Travel and leisure firms suffered similarly, with the sector declining 0.95 percent as investors remained cautious about the impact of Middle Eastern unrest and Ryanair’s poor results. Wizz Air fell 2.9 percent, while IAG and EasyJet each shed around 1.4 percent, indicating ripple effects from Ryanair’s performance. Meanwhile, in New York, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices opened higher, with tech stocks rebounding from a recent downturn. Chipmakers, in particular, showed strength, with Alphabet rising after reports suggested its Google division is working on a new server chip designed to enhance AI efficiency. As the second-quarter earnings season intensifies, major tech firms like Alphabet, Tesla, Intel, and IBM are set to release results, drawing close scrutiny from investors. Recent weakness in semiconductor stocks has raised concerns about whether valuations have become excessively inflated, despite robust AI-driven growth. Chris Zaccarelli, a chief investment officer at Northlight Asset Management, noted that while earnings are likely to remain strong, predicting whether they will exceed expectations has grown more challenging. This sentiment reflects growing caution among investors who fear that rapid market gains may not be sustainable. Domino’s Pizza, meanwhile, saw a slight uptick in its share price following a modest increase in quarterly revenue.