European stocks slide on growth concerns; Nvidia’s earnings prompt caution

Investing.com - European stocks fell slightly lower Monday, starting the new week on a dour note amid concerns over global growth as well as caution ahead of earnings from AI-darling Nvidia.

The DAX index in Germany closed 1.2% lower, while the CAC 40 in France slipped 0.6% and the FTSE 100 in the U.K. fell 0.2%. 

Global growth concerns  

This pessimistic mood comes after a troubled week for European markets last week, with regional bourses closing sharply lower on Friday as concerns about an artificial intelligence bubble and the global economy shook investor confidence.

Further evidence of the global slowdown arrived over the weekend, after the release of data showing Japan’s economy shrank at its fastest pace since the second quarter of 2024. 

Japanese gross domestic product fell 1.8% in the July-September period on an annual basis, a quarterly fall of 0.4%, hit by weak private consumption and a drop in exports, with the latter hit by higher U.S. trade tariffs. 

Data released late last week had shown weakness in China, the world’s second-largest economy, while the federal shutdown is likely to negatively impact U.S. economic growth in the fourth quarter.

Back in Europe, recent numbers showed the U.K. economy contracted in September, while the eurozone grew just 0.2% in the third quarter, compared with the previous three months.

Nvidia’s earnings in spotlight

In the corporate sector, the main event this week is likely the release of Nvidia’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) earnings after the close on Wednesday, which are shaping as a test for the artificial-intelligence bull run.

Analysts on average expect the company to post a 53.8% year-over-year rise in fiscal third-quarter earnings per share, according to LSEG, and they have been getting more optimistic about future revenue - leaving the company with a lot to beat, especially given the artificial intelligence bellwether’s massive $5 trillion valuation. 

Caution over Nvidia was furthered by filings over the weekend showing that billionaire investor Peter Thiel offloaded his nearly $100 million stake in Nvidia. 

Concerns over stretched tech valuations had triggered losses in the tech sector through late-October and early-November. 

Back in Europe, it’s a relatively quiet day as far as quarterly earnings are concerned.

Netherlands-based technology group Prosus (AS:PRX) expects earnings per share for the first half of fiscal 2026 to rise as much as 37%, driven by higher profitability across its businesses and gains related to Tencent.

Additionally, French cosmetics giant L’Oreal (EPA:OREP) said it has taken a minority stake in mass-market Chinese skincare brand Lan, marking its second investment in recent months in China, where local brands have grown rapidly.

Crude steady

Oil prices are steady on Monday despite Russia’s Novorossiysk port resuming crude loadings, easing immediate concerns over supply disruption. 

Brent futures dropped 0.1% to $64.34 a barrel, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures stood flat at $59.96 a barrel.

Both benchmarks had surged more than 2% on Friday after Ukraine launched a high-profile attack on Novorossiysk and a nearby Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal, causing damage and halting exports equivalent to roughly 2% of global supply.

By Sunday, however, media reports said that tanker-tracking data showed tankers were again loading crude at the port.