European shares end up; AI stocks boost Nasdaq

European equity markets closed in positive territory as trading in London and on the continent wound down. Germany's DAX posted the strongest performance, rising 1.12%, while the UK's FTSE 100 added 0.78%. Bourses in France, Spain and Italy also ended the session with gains.

The final levels for European benchmarks were as follows:

• Germany DAX: up 294.60 points, or 1.12%, to 26,642.06.

• France CAC 40: up 54.29 points, or 0.66%, to 8,332.88.

• UK FTSE 100: up 83.89 points, or 0.78%, to 10,835.48.

• Spain Ibex 35: up 85.70 points, or 0.43%, to 20,022.10.

• Italy FTSE MIB: up 191.48 points, or 0.37%, to 51,946.55.

• Euro Stoxx 50: up 43.50 points, or 0.68%, to 6,401.60.

A fresh wave of buying hit US technology stocks.

Across the Atlantic, the Nasdaq indexes led the advance. The Nasdaq 100 climbed 2.69%, and the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.96%. The S&P 500 also traded firmly higher, although the Dow posted only a modest gain.

Snapshot levels at the time of writing showed:

• Dow industrials: up 67.01 points, or 0.13%, to 52,304.24.

• S&P 500: up 97.95 points, or 1.30%, to 7,618.88.

• Nasdaq Composite: up 490.23 points, or 1.96%, to 25,556.11.

• Russell 2000: up 22.05 points, or 0.78%, to 2,843.43.

• Nasdaq 100: up 745.18 points, or 2.69%, to 28,485.98.

AI infrastructure, memory and semiconductor names were the standout performers. CoreWeave surged 26.02%, Nebius gained 18.10% and SanDisk jumped 17.46%. Bloom Energy advanced 16.07%, Lumentum rose 15.20% and Micron climbed 13.95%. Intel also joined the rally, adding 10.02%.

These were big moves. Money is flowing back into a sector that had been under severe pressure.

Still, the picture among large-cap technology names remains uneven. Microsoft was trading lower even as Nvidia, Apple and Tesla moved higher. The broader index may offer a bullish tailwind, but each stock still faces its own technical obstacles.

European bond yields ended the session mixed.

The equity gains came alongside a mixed day in European government debt. Benchmark yields in Germany and the UK moved higher, while those in France, Spain and Italy edged lower.

Ten-year yield levels were:

• Germany: 3.320%, up 1.6 basis points.

• France: 4.788%, down 0.4 basis points.

• UK: 5.229%, up 2.1 basis points.

• Spain: 3.885%, down 0.4 basis points.

• Italy: 3.352%, down 2.8 basis points.

The premium France pays over Germany narrowed by roughly 2 basis points, though it remains elevated at about 147 basis points. US cash Treasuries were closed for Veterans Day.

The dollar traded in mixed fashion. Gold slipped below $4,000.

In currency markets, the dollar strengthened against the euro, pound, Australian dollar and New Zealand dollar. It fell against the yen, Swiss franc and Canadian dollar.

EUR/USD traded at 1.1095, down 0.61%, while GBP/USD declined 0.45% to 1.3281. USD/JPY rose 0.69% to 159.82, putting the 160.00 level back in sight.

Gold was near $3,999, down roughly 0.83%. Silver moved in the opposite direction, adding 1.03% to $52.065, and copper rose 0.98% to $6.2955. Bitcoin edged up 0.72% to $74,230.

For equity traders, the key question now is whether buyers can hold on to the day's gains and extend them. The rebound provides more breathing room, but after the recent steep losses, reclaiming resistance levels—and staying above them—is what will give them greater control.