European Stocks Point Higher as Oil Extends Slide; US-Iran Talks, US-China Summit in Focus

European equities were set to open slightly higher on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, as investors monitored developments between the United States and Iran and awaited a pivotal US-China summit scheduled for Thursday, September 24, which could yield new trade agreements amid escalating competition. Oil prices extended their decline, weighing on energy shares but easing input-cost pressure across other sectors. Market attention remains fixed on the summit's potential to reshape trade relations between Washington and Beijing, with investors cautious over rising geopolitical tensions tied to the US-Iran standoff.