European equities slide to multi-week lows amid yield pressures and Fed hawkishness

European equities extended declines on Thursday, reaching fresh multi-week lows as a surge in global bond yields intensified pressure on risk assets. The region’s benchmark indices—Germany’s DAX, France’s CAC 40, and London’s FTSE 100—all fell into territory not seen since early August, reflecting broader concerns over monetary policy tightening and geopolitical tensions. While London’s FTSE 100 showed relative stability, its heavy exposure to integrated oil majors like Shell and BP mitigated some of the broader downturn, as crude prices surged past $90 per barrel following U.S.-backed strikes in the Persian Gulf.