European stock markets opened lower, amid concerns over the Middle East and high bond yields, as investors await a potential Fed interest rate hike.

European stock markets opened lower, near multi-month lows, amid geopolitical risks and high bond yields, while the market projects a 92% probability that the Fed will raise interest rates by 0.25% at this week's meeting.

On September 15, 2026, at 3:30 PM, European stock markets opened lower today (September 15) and moved near their lowest levels in several months amid concerns about geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, persistently high government bond yields, and calls from technology leaders to slow the development of artificial intelligence (AI).

The STOXX 600 index opened at 635.16 points, down 0.83 points or 0.13%. France's CAC 40 index opened at 8,084.61 points, down 33.17 points or 0.41%, and Germany's DAX index opened at 25,360.32 points, down 80.49 points or 0.32%.

Investors are also watching the two-day monetary policy meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed), which begins today, amid increasing expectations that the Fed may raise interest rates by 0.25% after August inflation data remained significantly above the central bank's 2% target.

The latest CME Group FedWatch Tool reflects that investors give a greater than 92% probability of the Fed raising interest rates by 0.25% at this meeting. This means that the direction of US monetary policy remains a key factor pressuring investment sentiment in European stock markets.

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