European shares slide as AI concerns weigh on technology and financial stocks

European equity markets retreated on February 11, 2026, as the pan-European STOXX 600 index moved lower following a sharp sell-off in the technology and financial sectors. This downturn was primarily driven by persisting investor worries that recently released artificial intelligence models and tools could shrink profit margins for traditional software businesses. The technology sector specifically fell by 1.8% during the session, reflecting a broader anxiety about the long-term viability of established software pricing models in the face of rapid AI advancement.