European stocks mixed as U.S. yields climb; oil and gold slip, Bitcoin edges higher
European equities opened the week without conviction as rising U.S. Treasury yields nudged risk appetite lower and Wall Street slipped into the red. The DAX eked out a small gain while the CAC 40 and FTSE 100 drifted lower, with U.S. stocks near session lows into the European close. Small caps outperformed even as megacaps lagged.
Europe closes flat-to-mixed
European benchmarks ended the session split as investors weighed higher global yields against subdued risk appetite:
- Germany’s DAX +0.11%
- France’s CAC 40 -0.18%
- UK’s FTSE 100 -0.27%
- Spain’s Ibex +0.07%
- Italy’s FTSE MIB -0.08%
The lack of a clear catalyst kept trading ranges tight. Dealer chatter pointed to light volumes and selective rotation rather than broad-based risk-on positioning.
Wall Street weak as small caps buck the trend
U.S. stocks were broadly lower into the European close, hovering near intraday lows as higher rates pressured duration-sensitive names:
- Dow Jones Industrial Average -149 pts (-0.31%) at 47,805
- S&P 500 -22.51 pts (-0.33%) at 6,848.18
- Russell 2000 +9.73 pts (+0.39%) at 2,531.12
Mega-cap and growth shares led decliners: Netflix (-4.5%), Tesla (-3.7%), Intel (-4.0%), Lululemon (-4.0%), Nike (-2.6%), and cybersecurity names like Palo Alto Networks (-2.1%) fell. On the upside, semis and select AI-adjacent plays advanced with Broadcom (+2.7%) and Micron (+2.6%), while Corning (+2.9%), Robinhood (+3.4%), Celsius (+3.9%), Ciena (+3.3%), Chewy (+2.8%) and Paramount Skydance (+7.5%) gained.
Rates: bear-steepening biases risk and FX tone
Treasuries sold off across the curve, with a mild bear steepening that typically weighs on long-duration assets:
- 2-year 3.604% (+4.0 bps)
- 5-year 3.767% (+5.2 bps)
- 10-year 4.181% (+4.3 bps)
- 30-year 4.825% (+3.3 bps)
Higher U.S. yields underpinned the dollar and kept FX volatility contained, with traders favoring defensive positioning over high-beta currencies. The tone remains cautious ahead of this week’s macro headlines and central bank speak, where any hawkish surprises could prolong the yield-backed support for the greenback.
Commodities and crypto
Risk-sensitive commodities softened while crypto outperformed:
- Crude oil -$0.85 to $59.20
- Gold -$1.50 to $4,195.77
- Silver -$0.33 to $57.95
- Bitcoin +$42 to $90,441, up from Friday’s $89,348
Energy and precious metals remain sensitive to the rates backdrop and growth expectations, while digital assets continued to see dip-buying interest.
Key points
- European equities closed mixed as higher U.S. yields pressured risk sentiment.
- U.S. stocks were broadly lower into the European close; small caps outperformed.
- Mild bear steepening in the Treasury curve reinforced a defensive FX tone.
- Tech and consumer names led U.S. decliners; select semis and AI-linked plays rose.
- Oil and gold slipped; Bitcoin advanced above $90,000.
Market outlook
With yields grinding higher, investors remain focused on the policy path and incoming growth data. For FX, sustained rate differentials favor the dollar over higher-beta peers, while equities could remain rangebound if yields continue to creep up. A clearer directional signal may hinge on upcoming U.S. macro releases and central bank commentary. For now, the bias is toward cautious positioning and selective sector rotation, BPayNews notes.
FAQ
Why were European stocks mixed today?
European indices were largely rangebound as higher U.S. Treasury yields dampened risk appetite. Without a strong catalyst, markets leaned on sector rotation and idiosyncratic moves rather than broad momentum.
How did U.S. markets trade into the European close?
The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq were all lower near session lows, while the small-cap Russell 2000 outperformed. Growth-heavy names lagged as yields rose.
What do higher Treasury yields mean for FX markets?
Rising U.S. yields typically support the dollar by widening rate differentials, pressuring higher-beta and carry-sensitive currencies. The move favors a defensive, dollar-positive FX setup.
Which sectors or names stood out?
Decliners included large-cap tech and consumer names such as Netflix, Tesla, Intel, Lululemon and Nike. Gainers were led by semis and AI-adjacent stocks like Broadcom and Micron, and select names including Corning, Robinhood, Celsius, Ciena and Paramount Skydance.
How did commodities and crypto trade?
Oil and precious metals edged lower as yields rose, while Bitcoin ticked higher, extending gains from Friday’s close. The commodities drift reflects the tug-of-war between growth concerns and the rates backdrop.
Last updated on December 9th, 2025 at 08:23 am
