European markets led the morning charge, with the Stoxx Europe 600 climbing 0.8% alongside a 1.3% gain for Germany’s DAX and a 0.9% rise for France’s CAC 40. Individual performances were mixed: Gerresheimer surged 11.2% and Auto1 Group added 5.6%, while Norwegian energy producers Equinor and Var Energi faced pressure, shedding 5.6% and 4.7% respectively. Across the Atlantic, S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures both signaled a 0.9% opening increase.

The energy sell-off remained the primary catalyst, with Brent crude dropping 5.8% to $86.39 a barrel and WTI falling 6.2% to $83.78. European natural gas prices followed suit, as the Dutch TTF contract slid 8.4% to 58.32 euros per megawatt hour. Concurrently, the flight to safety eased bond yields; the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield fell 5 basis points to 4.636%, and the German 10-year Bund yield dipped 4 basis points to 3.165%. The Wall Street Journal Dollar Index also softened, declining 0.2% to 97.32.