ROME: European stock markets have closed mostly lower as more disappointing Chinese data weighed on the global economic outlook, and investors awaited developments in Greece’s debt stand-off.
Frankfurt’s benchmark DAX 30 index closed down 1.2 per cent to 11,724 points on Thursday as the market brushed off data showing that consumer confidence in Germany is at its highest since late 2001.
The CAC 40 in Paris ended 0.6 per cent lower at 5,179 after a key survey showed growth in business activity in France’s private sector slowed in April amid signs that the eurozone’s second-biggest economy was on the verge of stalling.
London’s FTSE 100 closed out 0.4 per cent higher to 7,054 points, with dealers reacting to a drop in British retail sales numbers, along with official data showing the British government beat its deficit-reduction target before next month’s general election.
The euro rose to $US1.0804 from $US1.0725 late in New York on Wednesday.
“European equity markets remained in negative territory in today’s trading session with … indices (retreating) between 0.2 per cent and 1.2 per cent amid ongoing concerns regarding Greece’s economic stability and poor US economic data,” Sucden senior research analyst Myrto Sokou said.
