European Stocks Close Lower as Oil Rebounds on Strait of Hormuz Reopening Uncertainty

European equities closed lower on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, as crude oil prices reversed five straight sessions of losses and turned positive. Uncertainty over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz drove the rebound in energy prices, weighing on regional stock benchmarks. Oil's recovery pressured equities already sensitive to energy input costs and inflation expectations, with investors monitoring the key chokepoint for global crude shipments. The reversal followed a sustained decline in oil that had briefly supported transport and consumer sectors. Trading volumes reflected caution, with markets awaiting clarity on the status of the strategic waterway, a critical conduit for Middle East crude exports.