Tech shares power Europe's STOXX 600 to record high

European stocks surged to a record high on Friday, led by a broadening appetite for technology shares and supported by corporate earnings. The pan-European STOXX 600 rose 0.9% to 655.2 by 0712 GMT, extending gains for a fourth straight month. Tech stocks on the index jumped 2.2%, with momentum tied to improving AI-linked demand seen earlier this week. Key contributors included Soitec (+7.2%), Infineon (+7%), and ASML (+3.5%). A more than 1% drop in oil prices helped sentiment as Brent stayed under $90 a barrel. Trading also weighed Melrose Industries’ warning of £25 million to £30 million in extra costs in 2H 2026.