European markets traded higher on Tuesday, with investors closely monitoring geopolitical tensions.
As of 03:08 ET (08:08 GMT), Germany’s DAX climbed 0.1%, the FTSE 100 in the U.K. increased by 0.2%, and France’s CAC 40 edged up 0.1%.
U.S.-Russia talks sideline Europe
Geopolitical tensions remain a focal point as U.S. officials prepare for discussions with Russia over ending the Ukraine war, excluding Kyiv and European leaders from negotiations.
In response, European leaders convened an emergency summit in Paris on Monday. While they agreed on boosting defense spending, no consensus was reached on deploying peacekeeping troops post-conflict.
U.K. unemployment rate holds at 4.4%
The U.K.’s jobless rate remained steady at 4.4% for the three months ending in December, according to the Office for National Statistics.
This marks no change from the previous quarter when unemployment hit its highest level since May 2024. Year-on-year, the rate increased by 0.5 percentage points.
Businesses have expressed concerns over a hike in employer National Insurance contributions introduced in October. A November survey by the Confederation of British Industry revealed nearly half of firms planned workforce reductions to offset rising costs.
Capgemini profits steady despite revenue dip; IHG buys Ruby and boosts profit
Capgemini (EPA:CAPP) on Tuesday reported a 1.9% drop in revenue for 2024, totaling €22.1 billion, mainly due to challenges in the Manufacturing sector.
However, its operating margin remained stable at 13.3%, supported by Cloud, Data, and AI services. Generative AI accounted for 5% of Q4 bookings, reflecting growing demand.
InterContinental Hotels Group (LON:IHG) (IHG) acquired European city-center chain Ruby as its 20th brand. Alongside the acquisition, IHG reported a 10% rise in operating profit to $1.12 billion (£890 million) for 2024.
Revenue per available room increased by 3% over the year, accelerating to 4.6% in Q4. IHG also announced a 10% dividend increase and a $900 million (£719.4 million) share buyback program.
Crude oil prices rise following drone attack on Russian pipeline
Crude oil prices climbed on Tuesday, building on the previous day's gains, after a drone strike on an oil pipeline pumping station in Russia caused a reduction in flows from Kazakhstan.
However, the gains were limited by expectations that supply levels could increase in the near future.
By 03:08 ET, US crude futures (WTI) were up 1% to $71.44 per barrel, while the Brent oil contract rose 0.3% to $75.41 per barrel.
