(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 8 mag - European share prices opened lower, following global markets downwards as renewed clashes between the US and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz reignited geopolitical concerns.

Investors are reacting to reports that US Navy destroyers intercepted Iranian attacks and carried out retaliatory strikes in the strategic waterway.

While US president Donald Trump stated that a ceasefire remains in effect, referring to the exchange as just a "little tap," the potential for increased friction remains high, particularly with reports that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have lifted restrictions on the use of their bases for the American "Project Freedom" in the region.

Sentiment is further weighed down by trade uncertainties after Trump issued a deadline until July 4 for the EU to comply with trade terms, threatening significantly higher tariffs. This comes despite a US federal court ruling existing 10% tariffs as "illegal" overnight.

On the data front, German industrial production dropped a seasonally adjusted 0.7% in March, while the German trade surplus narrowed to 14.3 billion euros.

At 0708 GMT, London's FTSE 100 was down 0.63% at 10,212.33 points while in Frankfurt the DAX was 1.06% lower at 24,410.25 points and in Paris the CAC 40 fell 0.82% to 8,134.78 points. Milan's FTSE MIB slumped 0.58% to 49,006.50 points while in Madrid the IBEX 35 was 0.69% lower at.

17,927.17 points.

(RADIOCOR) 08-05-26 09:13:59 (0197) 5 NNNN