European stocks traded mixed on Monday, but with the main index inching toward a fresh record on Monday, led by commodity related stocks. Fears around rising energy prices were in focus after a cyberattack at a major U.S. pipeline.
Following a mixed Asian session, the Stoxx Europe 600 index XX:SXXP was flat at 445.60, which still sets it on course for a fresh closing high after Friday’s record of 444.93. The German DAX DX:DAX and French CAC 40 FR:PX1 indexes dipped 0.2% each and the FTSE 100 index UK:UKX was flat.
The pound GBPUSD pushed above a key level at $1.4095 on Monday, after the Scottish National Party, the main party in Scotland pushing for independence, fell one seat short of securing an overall majority. The euro EURUSD was flat.
U.S. stocks opened mixed, with the S&P SPX flat, the Dow industrials DJIA up 0.6% and the Nasdaq Composite COMP dropping 1.4%.
Shares of major oil companies climbed, with those of BP UK:BP BP and Royal Dutch Shell RDS UK:RDSA rose 2% and 1.6%, respectively, and Total TOT FR:FP also up 1.6%. Oil prices pulled back following a cyberattack on a key fuel line in the U.S. operated by Georgia-based Colonial Pipeline, which delivers around 45% of fuel used by the East Coast. Under such an attack, hackers paralyze the computer systems and networks of a company, demanding a ransom to reverse that.
Futures for June crude oil futures CLM21 and international benchmark Brent crude BRNN21 dipped 0.6% each and natural-gas prices RBM21 also eased off by 1.5%. That is after earlier gains, as analysts have voiced concerns about possible shortages in the U.S. if the Colonial Pipeline situation isn’t resolved.
Elsewhere, mining stocks rose as iron ore futures surged in Singapore past $226 a ton, boosted by demand from China and a general recovery for the global economy. Iron-ore prices also surged last week. July copper futures HGN21 were earlier up 2.5% before moving back to trade at $4.7530, hovering near Friday’s closing record high. Copper prices rose 6.3% last week, the biggest weekly jump since the week ended Feb. 19.
Shares of Rio Tinto UK:RIO RIO surged 4% and BHP Group BHP UK:BHP climbed 3.8%.
Shares of MAN XE:MAN soared 30%, after Traton XE:8TRA said on Saturday it would pay €70.68 ($85.96) a share to squeeze out minority shareholders of the truck-and-bus manufacturer. Volkswagen XE:VOW3 XE:VOW -owned Traton, which is a commercial-vehicle producer, said the offer has been sent to MAN’s board and was being reviewed by a court-appointed auditor. MAN shares closed at €55.50 on Friday