European markets saw a mix of geopolitical developments and corporate activity on Tuesday, as Belarus confirmed plans to deploy a new Russian-made missile system, while investors monitored central bank policy decisions and quarterly earnings from major firms.
In the corporate sector, Nokia shares surged on a $1 billion investment from Nvidia, and European officials prepared for fresh discussions on a possible ceasefire in Ukraine.
Belarus to deploy Russian Oreshnik missile system in December
Belarus will place Russia’s Oreshnik missile system on combat duty in December, according to presidential press secretary Natalia Eismant, who confirmed the announcement to TASS on Tuesday.
“The process of creating conditions for the deployment of the Oreshnik in the Republic of Belarus is coming to an end. Any discussion about whether or not the Oreshnik will be deployed is now over,” Eismant said.
Earlier this year, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said the intermediate-range ballistic missile would be deployed following an agreement with Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the Oreshnik as a cutting-edge system now in serial production.
The missile was reportedly used by Russia in November last year to strike a facility in Dnipro, Ukraine, marking its first confirmed operational use.
European markets close mixed ahead of central bank decisions
Major stock indexes across Europe closed mixed on Tuesday, as investors awaited monetary policy decisions from both the European Central Bank (ECB) and the US Federal Reserve later this week.
Data indicated that German consumer confidence is likely to deteriorate in November, reflecting growing concern over inflation and slowing economic growth.
At the close of trading, Germany’s DAX index was flat, while the UK’s FTSE 100 rose 0.51%, boosted by Airtel Africa PLC, which jumped 15.83%.
France’s CAC 40 fell 0.28%, and the EURO STOXX 50 slipped 0.11%, weighed down by a 4.10% decline in BNP Paribas shares.
In the currency markets, the euro gained 0.15% against the U.S. dollar, trading at $1.16612 at 5:33 p.m. CET.
Meanwhile, the British pound fell 0.37% to $1.32850.
Nokia shares jump over 20% on Nvidia’s $1B investment
Nokia Corporation’s stock soared more than 20% on Tuesday after the Finnish telecommunications company announced a $1 billion equity investment from Nvidia Corporation.
Under the agreement, Nokia will issue 166,389,351 new shares to Nvidia at a price of $6.01 (€5.16) per share, equivalent to approximately €860 million. The shares will be delivered in the form of American Depositary Shares, giving Nvidia a 2.9% stake in Nokia.
Nokia said the investment will help fund its efforts to strengthen “trusted connectivity for the artificial intelligence supercycle” and further develop its 5G and 6G Radio Access Network (RAN) software on Nvidia’s architecture.
Nokia’s Helsinki shares closed at $6.59, up by 20.86%.
Ukraine and EU officials to discuss ceasefire framework
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Ukrainian and European officials will meet later this week to discuss details of a potential ceasefire framework.
“Our advisers will meet in the coming days, we agreed on Friday or Saturday. They will discuss the details of this plan,” Zelensky said during a meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel.
Zelensky emphasized that the discussions are focused on achieving a ceasefire rather than a broader peace plan.
The announcement followed comments in an Axios interview in which Zelensky said Ukraine would work with its partners on the plan “in the next ten days.”
Poland to reopen two border crossings with Belarus
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that Poland is prepared to reopen two border crossings with Belarus in November — Bobrowniki and Kuznica.
Speaking at the EU’s Border Cohesion and Development Forum in Bialystok, Tusk said the reopenings would be “on a trial basis” and emphasized coordination with Lithuania before any final decision is made.
Tusk added that the Polowce crossing would remain closed for now due to an existing military camp in the area.
The decision marks a cautious step toward restoring limited border operations amid ongoing regional tensions.
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