Market Overview

European stock markets experienced a downturn at the opening on Thursday, as investors digested the latest quarterly earnings from major corporations including Renault Group, Nestle, Roche, Sanofi, Eni, BNP Paribas, and Unilever. This comes alongside fresh economic data indicating a slight improvement in French consumer confidence for April, with German business confidence figures awaited later in the day.

Index Performance

The DAX fell by 0.18%, while the Euro Stoxx 50 saw a 0.45% decline by 9:00 am CET, significantly impacted by Infineon's 5.60% drop. Similarly, the FTSE 100 decreased by 0.11%, dragged down by Legal & General Group's 5.50% fall. The CAC 40 wasn't spared, dropping 0.23%, with Thales leading the losses at a 5.13% plunge.

Currency Movements

Amidst the market fluctuations, the euro appreciated by 0.32% against the dollar, trading at $1.13519, while the pound also saw a 0.16% increase, reaching $1.32745 by 8:58 am CET.