European Markets Open Higher

European markets saw a positive start on Friday, buoyed by encouraging corporate earnings and reports suggesting China might be easing some retaliatory tariffs on US-made chips. This development follows recent trade discussions between Washington and Beijing, sparking hopes for a more favorable trade environment.

UK Retail Data Exceeds Expectations

Adding to the upbeat sentiment, the UK reported better-than-expected retail sales for March, with volumes up by 2.6% year-on-year. This positive data further contributed to the optimistic outlook across European markets.

Market Performance Highlights

By 9:00 am CET, key indices showed notable gains: the DAX advanced by 0.47%, the EURO STOXX 50 gained 0.83%, and the French CAC 40 increased by 0.37%. The British FTSE 100 also rose by 0.31%. In currency markets, the euro and pound experienced slight declines against the US dollar.

Notable Movers: Siemens Energy AG and Safran SA were among the top performers, with significant jumps in their stock prices.