European Markets React to Economic Data

On Friday, major European stock markets experienced a mostly downward trend, influenced by the latest economic data. Germany reported a decrease in inflation for January, alongside an increase in unemployment. France, on the other hand, saw a slight uptick in inflation. The United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland also released their respective economic indicators, including annual house price growth, producer prices, and retail sales figures.

Stock Market Performance

The French CAC 40 index dipped by 0.16%, with LVMH experiencing a significant drop of 1.98%. The Euro Stoxx 50 also saw a decrease of 0.13%, largely due to Adidas's 2.04% fall. Conversely, the British FTSE 100 enjoyed a 0.38% increase, propelled by Smiths Group's remarkable 11.42% surge. The German DAX index fell by 0.13%, with Merck contributing to the drop with a 2.9% loss.

Currency Movements

At 5:35 pm CET, the euro and the pound sterling remained stable against the dollar, trading at 1.03977 and 1.24407, respectively.