European Markets React to German Industrial Data

On Friday, major European stock markets closed lower following disappointing economic data from Germany. The country's industrial output in December fell to its lowest since 2020, sparking concerns over the health of Europe's largest economy.

Trade War Concerns Loom Large

Investors are also closely monitoring the potential impacts of a trade war instigated by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada. The European Central Bank (ECB) has warned that these tariffs could adversely affect the European economy.

Market Performance Highlights

The DAX index dropped by 0.63%, with Porsche experiencing a significant 7.12% fall. The Euro Stoxx 50 decreased by 0.62%, and Pernod Ricard shares fell by 4.69%. The CAC 40 index saw a 0.43% decline, with Edenred shares dropping by 4.56%. The FTSE 100 index fell by 0.31%, with Barratt Redrow leading the losses at a 4.02% decline.

Currency Movements

In currency markets, the euro weakened by 0.51% against the dollar, trading at $1.03361 by 5:28 pm CET. The pound sterling also decreased by 0.31% against the dollar, trading at $1.24000 shortly after.