11:58 AM EDT, 03/11/2026 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses were lower in Wednesday trading as investors remained wary of the conflict in the Middle East and surging oil prices.

The Stoxx Europe dropped 0.6%, Germany's DAX fell 1.4%, the FTSE 100 was down 0.7%, France's CAC declined 0.4%, and the Swiss Market Index lost 0.9%.

Aerospace and defense stocks slumped as Rheinmetall dropped 8.4% in Frankfurt, while Thales and Safran lost 1.5% and 1.1% respectively in Paris. Shares of Roll-Royce and BAE Systems were down 2% and 1.3% respectively in London, followed by Melrose Industries, which declined 1.2%.

Mining stocks continued to decline after a brief respite Tuesday, as Fresnillo and Antofagasta dropped 3.4% and 1.1% respectively in London. Heidelberg Materials fell 2.8% on the DAX, while ArcelorMittal was down 1.1% in Paris.

In Germany, the annual inflation rate declined to 1.9% in February from 2.1% in January, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Consumer prices increased 0.2% compared with January, confirming earlier preliminary estimates. The deceleration was mainly attributed to slower growth in food prices.

And in corporate news, Shell and TotalEnergies have declared force majeure to customers they supply with liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing unnamed sources.

The companies are among several buyers of Qatari LNG - including some firms in Asia - that act as portfolio players or offtakers and resell the fuel to global clients, the report said.

Shell and TotalEnergies did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment.

Shares of Shell rose 1.2% in London, while TotalEnergies shares gained 1.4% in Paris.

Rio Tinto and Chinalco's acquisition of Brazilian aluminum company Companhia Brasileira de Aluminio has been approved by Brazilian competition regulator CADE, according to a notice posted on a government website.

Under the agreement, the majority interest will be acquired via a joint venture 33% of which will be held by Rio and 67% by Chinalco, Rio said at the time.

Shares of Rio Tinto were off 0.7% in London.

Smurfit Westrock plans to invest $5 billion in the US over the next five years as part of a broader $6.1 billion investment push by Irish companies ahead of Prime Minister Micheal Martin's upcoming visit to the White House, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

The report said the sustainable paper-based packaging company's pledge is the largest among several investments expected to be highlighted during Martin's annual St. Patrick's Day meeting with President Donald Trump on March 17.

Shares of the packaging company dropped 1.7% in London

Stellantis is using technologies from automotive suppliers for its latest hybrid SUVs, CNBC reported Tuesday, citing unnamed sources from each company.

The automaker's Jeep Cherokee hybrid SUV for North America has a two-motor electric continuously variable hybrid transmission from Blue Nexus, a company backed by Toyota Motor, while upcoming extended range electric vehicles will use Bosch technologies, according to the report.

A Bosch spokesperson told MT Newswires in an email that the company "does not comment" on client relations. Stellantis declined MT Newswires' request for comment, while Toyota did not respond. Blue Nexus could not be reached.

Shares of Stellantis fell close to 2% in Paris.