Stocks in Europe declined on Wednesday (19/3), with the STOXX 50 falling 0.4% and the STOXX 600 down 0.3%, snapping a three-session winning streak. Investors weighed Germany's historic constitutional amendment vote, developments on a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, ongoing tariff concerns, and key monetary policy updates. In Germany, the Bundestag approved an expected amendment to the debt brake, which will allow increased fiscal spending on infrastructure and defense.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a limited ceasefire halting attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure but has so far resisted committing to a full 30-day ceasefire. On the monetary policy front, the Fed is expected to keep interest rates steady while providing fresh economic projections, which may factor in the potential impact of President Donald Trump's trade policies. Among the worst performers were BBVA (-2%), BASF (-1.2%), Siemens (-1.4%), Bayer (-0.8%), and BMW (-0.8%).

Source: Trading Economics