European markets close higher as investors digest key points from Munich Security Conference

European markets closed higher on Monday, as investors digested the key points from this year’s Munich Security Conference.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up 0.1% by market close, with major bourses and most sectors in the region in positive territory.

Trading of Dassault Systemes shares were briefly halted Monday after the company fell sharply. The pause came as broker AlphaValue cut its rating from Buy to Reduce amid renewed concerns over AI monetization and a “worrying loss of momentum” at the French software group. Its shares were 10% lower by the end of the trading session.

Geopolitics and defense returned to the spotlight as investors focused on this year’s Munich Security Conference. The event saw several European leaders and policymakers reiterate the need for greater defense spending to accelerate the continent’s strategic autonomy, with discussions of a common nuclear shield.

Despite U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio striking a markedly more conciliatory tone towards European allies in his speech Saturday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged a “deep divide” in the transatlantic partnership, warning that the post-World War Two rules-based order “no longer exists.”

Also speaking at the MSC, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country would be ready to join the EU by 2027, and said a date for accession should be included in any peace agreement with Russia.

Meanwhile, U.K. lender NatWest Group gained 4.7% as it began a £750 million ($1.02 billion) share buyback program on Monday.

Elsewhere, European mining stocks saw some of the biggest moves to the downside in morning dealmaking.

Rio Tinto lost 1% after the multinational mining company suspended work at its Simandou iron-ore mine in Guinea following a fatality at the SimFer project late Sunday.

Ahead of its latest earnings update Tuesday, BHP Group fell 0.7%, while Glencore, which had been set to merge with Rio Tinto until the tie-up was abandoned earlier this month, also lost ground, falling over 0.3%. Fresnillo retreated 1%, and Anglo American was 0.2% lower.

The FTSE Industrial Metals and Mining Index was last seen down nearly 0.6%.

In corporate earnings, Airbus, Nestlé and Renault are among the names reporting results later this week.

In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei advanced 0.2%, as economic growth in the country came in at 0.2% annualized for the December quarter, lagging an expected 1.6% print. Trading was thin elsewhere in the region, as markets in China, South Korea and Taiwan were closed for the Lunar New Year holiday.

Stock markets in the U.S., meanwhile, are closed on Monday for Presidents’ Day.