European stocks close higher on Friday; STOXX 600 rises 0.8 percent to 644.5

European equity indexes closed higher on Friday, 24 July 2026 (2 Mordad 1405). The STOXX Europe 600 rose 0.8 percent to 644.5 and the Euro STOXX 50 gained 1.1 percent to 6,281.

According to Bloomberg, the main drivers were better-than-expected corporate earnings, including results from the software group SAP, and robust euro-area business activity data. Market reports said European stocks extended their gains later in the session after Reuters reported that Pakistan, in a China-initiated push, was exploring a path to resume the US and Iran talks.

Friday's advance contrasted with declines in US markets the same day, where the Nasdaq fell 2.2 percent. For Iran's market, the direction of European equities matters mainly as a gauge of how much war and energy risk global markets are pricing, rather than as a direct channel.