Unexpectedly high demand for European stocks this year is driving the largest wave of block sales in the region in this century, with bankers expecting more such deals in the future. In 2025, investors have sold nearly $26 billion of European stocks through big trades, including Pfizer Inc. finalizing its exit from Haleon Plc and governments selling off crisis-era stakes in banks. While analysts anticipated European stocks to take a back seat to US counterparts due to economic concerns and US tariff fears, Europe's benchmark has had a strong performance, leading to a rise in accelerated bookbuild (ABB) offerings. This trend has been attributed to a shift in investor sentiment toward European stocks and away from US equities due to trade policy uncertainties and a weaker economic outlook. Shareholders in European companies, including the Agnelli clan and Sandoz family, have taken advantage of this market momentum, selling large positions in companies such as Ferrari NV and Novartis AG. Private equity firms have also utilized the favorable market conditions to exit investments. Additionally, some long-term investors have seized the opportunity to profit from the recent positive performance of European markets after years of lackluster returns.