By Laurenz Van de Sande — CryptoNewsHub

Brussels / New York — November 22, 2025 | 19:00 CET

Key Points:

• Major European indices closed sharply higher following weak U.S. labor market data.

• Softer nonfarm payrolls figures boosted expectations of further Federal Reserve easing.

•Technology, luxury, and mining stocks led gains across the region.

•The euro and pound weakened modestly against the U.S. dollar.

---

European stock markets closed firmly higher on Friday, with several major indices posting gains of more than 1%, as investors reacted to weaker-than-expected labor market data from the United States. The softer December nonfarm payrolls report reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve could move toward additional interest rate cuts, lifting global risk sentiment.

The Euro Stoxx 50 jumped 1.58% by the close, led by a sharp rally in technology stocks. ASML surged 6.77%, providing the single largest boost to the benchmark. France’s CAC 40 rose 1.44%, with luxury heavyweight L’Oréal climbing 6.32% as investors rotated into growth-sensitive names.

Germany’s DAX added 0.53% at the closing bell, supported by a 2.83% gain in SAP. In London, the FTSE 100 advanced 0.80%, driven by a strong performance in the mining sector, where Glencore soared 9.60%. The rally was broad-based across the continent, with the Amsterdam Exchange Index (AEX) posting one of the strongest performances of the day, jumping 2.39%.

Market participants pointed to the U.S. jobs data as a key catalyst. “Lower payroll growth reinforces the view that monetary conditions will ease further,” one European equity strategist said, noting that rate-sensitive sectors responded most strongly.

Currency markets reflected a cautious risk-on tone. The euro traded 0.18% lower against the U.S. dollar at 5:34 p.m. CET, changing hands at 1.16311. The British pound also weakened, slipping 0.23% to 1.34068 against the greenback.

The strong close capped a volatile week for European equities, as investors increasingly look to U.S. macroeconomic signals for clues on the global policy outlook heading into the new year.

© 2025 Cryptonewshub — This article is original content created exclusively for you, and all rights are transferred to you for publication and distribution.