European shares ticked up on Wednesday as investors took a breather after a global equities rout that pushed the benchmark index to more than one-month lows, amid concerns about a widened and prolonged conflict in the Middle East.
The pan-European STOXX 600 was up 0.6% at 607.62 points by 0810 GMT. The index has shed nearly 5% since hitting a record high on Friday.
Travel and luxury stocks, which were at the forefront of the sell-off, were up more than 1% each.
Technology and healthcare names were the biggest boost for the index.
Vistry slumped 22% after the UK home builder announced that its CEO and Chair, Greg Fitzgerald, intends to step down and that the roles will be separated after his retirement.
Meanwhile, Israeli and U.S. forces continued pounding targets across Iran that started from Saturday, prompting retaliatory strikes from Tehran across U.S. allies in the Gulf region, which have hit establishments ranging from oil refineries to U.S. embassies.
Brent Crude climbed nearly 2%, although prices retreated from peaks after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered an insurance guarantee for Gulf shipping and said the U.S. Navy could escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.
Still, the oil sector declined for the second straight session, down 0.6%.
Among other stocks, Adidas shed 6% following the sports giant's results.
On the macro front, the euro zone PMI for February is due later in the day.
(Reporting by Avinash P in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
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