Using Portuguese stock market returns, at the aggregate and industry levels, over the period 1997-2009, we find that the European Union (EU) Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) and Consumer Confidence Index are driven by both rational and irrational factors. Irrational ESI is significantly negatively related to stock returns. Sentiment negatively forecasts aggregate stock market returns, but not all industry index returns. We find no contagious effect of U.S. investor sentiment on Portuguese market returns.