Europe open: Shares mixed, oil up as US, Iran exchange attacks

(Sharecast News) - European shares were mixed and oil prices higher at the open after the US struck targets in Iran over the weekend, while Kuwait came under attack on Monday morning.

The pan-regional Stoxx 600 index was down 0.21% to 624 at 0811 BST. The UK's FTSE fell 0.33%, and France's CAC 40 0.03% while Germany's DAX gained 0.02% and Italy's MIB rose 0.1%.

US Central Command said its attack was "self defence" against "aggressive Iranian actions", including the shooting down of a US drone that was "operating over international waters".

American strikes hit Iranian radar and command and control sites for drones in Goruk, Iran and Qeshm Island.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had targeted an airbase used by the US in response to the attack on southern Iran, without `identifying which base.

Air defences in Kuwait, where a major US base is located, were intercepting missile and drone attacks as sirens sounded across the country, the state news agency KUNA reported. Brent Crude jumped 3% to $93.91 on the news.

Meanwhile, Israel continued to annexe more territory in Lebanon as its own moves against Iran and influence over Washington's military campaign appeared to be faltering.

European leaders condemned the expanding incursion after Israeli troops captured the medieval Beaufort castle. France's president Emmanuel Macron saying there was no justification for the escalation.

In economic news, German retail sales fell less than expected in April, down by 0.3% compared with the previous month, data showed on Monday. Analysts had forecast a 0.5% decrease.

In equity news, shares in easyJet jumped as the budget airline confirmed private credit firm Castlelake had made what it called a 'highly opportunistic' takeover bid.

Castlelake on Friday said it was in the "early stages of considering a possible offer" for easyJet but had not approached the airline's board.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com