European Markets React to Economic Indicators

On Friday, European stock markets experienced a mostly positive closure, responding to the latest economic data. Germany and Switzerland reported their retail sales figures, while France's GDP and inflation rates were under scrutiny. The UK's housing market also came into focus, with inflation reports from Germany and Italy adding to the mix of economic indicators.

Market Performance Highlights

The DAX remained stable, whereas the CAC 40 saw a slight increase, driven by a significant jump in Pernod Ricard SA's shares. The FTSE 100 also gained, with Weir Group PLC ORD 12.5P leading the charge. However, the Euro Stoxx 50 faced a minor setback, primarily due to ASML Holding NV's decline.

Currency Movements

At 5:28 pm CET, the euro held steady against the US dollar, but the pound sterling experienced a slight depreciation, trading at $1.04001 and $1.25850, respectively.