European Shares Seen Flat To Lower At Open

Economic and Market Overview - European stocks are expected to open flat to slightly lower as investors assess risks domestically and internationally [1] - U.S. government shutdown enters its third week, with Senate failing to advance funding measures [2] - U.S. Trade Representative and Treasury Secretary criticize China's export curbs on rare earths, labeling it as economic coercion [3] - President Trump emphasizes the trade war with China, framing tariffs as part of national defense strategy [4] - Asian markets are mostly higher, driven by expectations of continued monetary easing from the Federal Reserve [5] Commodity and Financial Markets - Gold prices reached a new peak at $4,241.99 per ounce, while oil prices rebounded from five-month lows [6] - U.S. stocks fluctuated but ended mostly higher, supported by positive comments on artificial intelligence and strong quarterly results from major financial institutions [7] - The Dow slightly decreased, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite saw gains of 0.4% and 0.7% respectively [8] - European stocks ended mixed, with the pan-European Stoxx 600 gaining 0.6%, while the German DAX and U.K.'s FTSE 100 saw slight declines [8]