European equities opened sharply lower on Friday as geopolitical tensions escalated following Israel’s early morning strikes on Iranian territory. The broad-based STOXX Europe 600 $^STOXX index fell 1%, with red dominating across nearly all sectors. Only the energy complex, buoyed by rising crude prices, remained in positive territory. The intensification of conflict in the Middle East renewed investor anxiety, triggering a defensive rotation away from risk assets. Equity markets across Europe reacted swiftly to the overnight developments, reflecting heightened sensitivity to geopolitical shocks in a macro environment already challenged by interest rate uncertainty and subdued economic momentum.