1022 GMT - European defense stocks fall as investors seek to lock in their gains in the wake of the damage to Iranian gas fields and Qatari LNG facilities, and the U.S. threat to step up its attacks if Qatar faces further attacks from Iran, AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould says. Renk Group falls 5.2%, Rolls-Royce drops 3.9%, Hensoldt loses 3.6%, Babcock International Group is down 3.2%, and Saab falls 2.3%. Leonardo, CSG and Safran all lose 2%. Kongsberg and Dassault Aviation both drop 1.6%, while Thales loses 1.4%. BAE Systems and Rheinmetall suffer softer blows; both fall 0.8%. "Defense stocks are not proving immune as there are big profits to be taken there," Mould says. "Someone, somewhere is locking in what they have, in assets or securities where liquidity means they can do so." (cristina.gallardo@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 19, 2026 06:22 ET (10:22 GMT)
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