Europe open: Shares up on US trade deal hopes; Eyes on UK bonds

(Sharecast News) - European markets opened higher on Thursday as investors eyed bond market turmoil in the UK and the latest positive moves on trade deals with the US.

The pan-regional Stoxx 600 index was up 0.36% in early deals at 543 points with Britain's FTSE 100 up 0.47%.

''There's been a recovery in sentiment for the pound, stocks and UK government debt after scenes in Parliament roiled markets," said Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Susannah Streeter.

Bond markets were shaken when the UK government caved in to a rebel backbench MPs who opposed a Bill that would cut welfare payments, effectively axing any fiscal spending headroom available to embattled Finance Minister Rachel Reeves.

The yield on the UK's benchmark 10-year government bond fell slightly after spiking on Wednesday.

"The government is in repair mode, with (Prime Minister) Keir Starmer backing Rachel Reeves to remain Chancellor (finance minister) into the next election and beyond. This is helping restore some calm on bond and currency markets, given that investors need stability and certainty to have the confidence to invest in UK assets," Streeter added.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump claimed he had secured a trade deal with Vietnam that would see a lower-than-threatened 20% tariff on the Asian nation's exports.

Sentiment was also boosted as the US lifted restrictions on exports to China for chip design software developers and ethane producers.

In equity news Watches of Switzerland dived as the luxury brands seller reported a fall in annual profits and posted record revenue but warned US products would be hit by tariff increases.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com