European equity markets closed higher on Friday, with the pan-European STOXX 600 index gaining 0.8%.
The broad-based rally was primarily fueled by a retreat in oil prices, which had surged to elevated levels during the previous session.
As energy costs eased, investor sentiment improved across the continent, allowing equities to recover from earlier weakness.
Despite the positive backdrop for the broader market, technology stocks faced headwinds.
Shares of leading artificial intelligence companies pulled back, underperforming the wider index.
This divergence highlights the ongoing rotation within the market, where capital is shifting away from high-growth tech names toward more defensive or value-oriented sectors as macroeconomic conditions evolve.