European markets close higher; Dutch chip stock BESI pops over 7% after posting fourth-quarter prelim order jump of 195%

LONDON — European stocks began the new trading week in positive territory as investors weigh geopolitical developments in Iran, and renewed pressure on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index preliminarily closed Monday’s session more than 0.1% higher, with major bourses in the green and sectors mixed after a morning in the red.

Market watchers will be keeping an eye on the developments in Iran this week after widespread protests were met with a violent crackdown by the Iranian authorities. U.S. President Donald Trump is weighing options to take action against Iran, according to multiple reports on Sunday.

The president has been shown potential plans, ranging from possible military strikes to action that doesn’t include the military, according to MS Now and other media outlets, citing U.S. officials.

Trump aides are reportedly set to brief the president Tuesday on measures, including military, cyber and economic, to follow through on his threats.

BE Semiconductor Industries expects orders for the fourth quarter to top 250 million euros ($292.2 million), a 43% rise from the 174.7 million euros booked in the third quarter, and a 105% year-on-year increase. BESI, which designs and manufactures semiconductor equipment, ended the session up 7.51%, paring earlier gains that saw it hit its highest price since July 2024. The Dutch company is set to report its fourth-quarter results next month.

Shares in Heineken, meanwhile, tumbled 6% after CEO and Chairman Dolf van den Brink said he intends to step down from his position on May 31.They clawed back some losses by mid-afternoon and were last seen 4.14% lower.The Amsterdam-based brewing giant’s supervisory board said it would begin a process to find a successor for Van den Brink, who has been in the role for almost six years.

Paris-listed shares in Abivax soared as high as 30% on Monday as the French biotech stock reportedly remains the subject of takeover rumors, but was last seen trading almost 5.05% higher after a period of halted trade. The company, which rallied almost 1,700% last year, has experienced wild swings over the past week.  

In other news, U.S. stocks fell at the opening bell after the Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell in an apparent escalation by Trump in his attempt to pressure the central bank. They were last seen little changed.

Powell confirmed in a video statement Sunday evening that federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation related to his Senate Banking Committee testimony on the renovation of Fed office buildings.

Powell said the investigation was another attempt by Trump to influence the central bank’s monetary policy and he would not bow to the pressure. His term as chair due to end in May.

There are no major earnings or data releases in Europe on Monday.

— CNBC’s Jennifer Elias, John Melloy and Yun Li contributed to this market report.