European Markets Open Lower

Major European stock markets experienced a downturn at the opening on Thursday, as investors sifted through a flurry of quarterly earnings reports from leading companies.

Key Earnings Reports

Notable reports included Renault Group, Nestle, Roche, Sanofi, Eni, BNP Paribas, and Unilever, each revealing their Q1 financial performances amidst varying market reactions.

Economic Indicators

On the economic front, France's consumer confidence showed a slight improvement in April, while Germany awaited the Ifo Institute's latest business confidence report.

Market Performance

The DAX and Euro Stoxx 50 saw declines, with Infineon notably dragging both indexes down. The FTSE 100 and CAC 40 also faced drops, influenced by Legal & General Group and Thales respectively.

Currency Movements

The euro and pound both gained against the dollar, marking a subtle shift in currency strengths early in the trading day.