European stocks advanced on Wednesday, with the STOXX 50 rising 0.5% to three-week highs and the STOXX 600 gaining 0.7% as most sectors moved higher. Utilities and mining stocks led, while energy shares weakened. ASML rose 0.8%, Novartis 1.1%, Airbus 1.3% and Safran 1.2%, while TotalEnergies fell 1%. Despite the gains on September’s final trading day, the STOXX 50 lost 1.5% for the month and the STOXX 600 declined 2%, ending a five-month run of monthly gains. Energy prices rose again amid stalled negotiations between the US and Iran, adding to inflationary pressure and strengthening expectations for tighter monetary policy. In the third quarter, the STOXX 50 was little changed, while the STOXX 600 fell 0.6%.