People visit a Lockheed Martin booth displaying a model of a military transport plane during an arms fair, in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Dec. 19, 2024.
Khanh Vu | Reuters
Global defense stocks jumped on Monday as investors reacted to a dramatic military escalation in the Middle East over the weekend.
The sector was a rare bright spot amid a broader market sell-off triggered by fears of a wider regional conflict.
Germany’s Hensoldt and Britain’s BAE Systems were among the top performers in the Stoxx 600, up close to 5% and around 6%, respectively. Defense name Renk rose more than 3%, and Leonardo gained more than 2%, paring earlier gains. The broader Stoxx 600 index fell more than 1%, touching a two-week low.
Stateside, U.S. firms Lockheed Martin…
