European equity markets are poised for a negative start on Tuesday, with the DAX expected to open roughly 0.5% lower at 24,997 points.
The sell-off is driven by fresh reports of military attacks in the Iran conflict, which have reignited investor anxiety over Middle East stability after a brief period of calm.
Asian markets remained under pressure overnight, signaling that the risk-off sentiment is likely to carry over into European trading hours.
The geopolitical escalation is overshadowing the onset of the European earnings season.
While broader market sentiment remains fragile, investors are looking for defensive anchors.
Deutsche Bank is among the key companies reporting results, with its financial data expected to be received positively by the market.