European stocks rise Feb 16, 2026 as STOXX 600 gains, despite Pinewood's £575m hit

On February 16, 2026, European equities ended higher, with the STOXX Europe 600 up 0.14% to 618.56, even as Pinewood Technologies plunged nearly one-third after Apax withdrew its £575 million bid. NatWest rose 4.7% on a £750 million buyback, while mining stocks such as Rio Tinto and BHP edged lower.