London: European stocks ended midweek on a mixed note, even as major indexes across the continent wrapped up the year with significant gains. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index fell 0.08%, or 0.5 points, to close at 592.28. The index gained nearly 16% during the year 2025.
According to Anadolu Agency, the UK's FTSE 100 was down 0.09% to end the year at 9,931.38, while climbing 21.5% during the year. France's CAC 40 fell 0.23% to 8,149.5, but still managed to rise 10.4% in 2025. Meanwhile, Spain's IBEX 35 lost 0.27% to end the day at 17,307.8 points, although it surged 49.3% over the year.
On the other hand, Germany's DAX 40 index was up 0.57% to end at 24,490.41 points, marking a 22.3% gain during the year. Italy's FTSE MIB index added 1.14% to close at 44,944.54, earning a 3.66% increase in 2025.
On Wednesday, defense stocks saw an uptick for a second consecutive day, with companies like Saab, Renk, and Rheinmetall finishing between 2% and 3% higher. This contributed to their yearly gains, which ranged between 130% and 193%.