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Important information: The value of investments can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. Investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. This is a third-party news feed and may not reflect Fidelity’s views.

Europe open: Shares up as investors mull impact of Iran President death

(Sharecast News) - European shares were higher at the open on Monday as investors eyed events in Iran after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash over the weekend, along with the country's foreign minister. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was up 0.09% at 523.39 with most major markets higher. On commodities markets, gold prices surged to $2,438 per ounce.

"Demand for the safe-haven asset has surged as investors have been digesting news of the death of ... Raisi (and) foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter crash," said Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Susannah Streeter.

"Demand has also likely to have been pushed up by renewed speculation that the Federal Reserve will be minded to cut interest rates a couple of times this year."

In equity news, Swiss luxury goods group Richemont rose 5%, extending gains on the back of record sales reported on Friday.

Shares in EPC Group slumped 6.5% after the French explosives manufacturer said it faces an investigation by the country's competition authority.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com

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Important information: This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice. When you are thinking about investing in shares, it’s generally a good idea to consider holding them alongside other investments in a diversified portfolio of assets. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

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