Investing.com - European stocks were mixed in quiet trade on Monday, after the release of encouraging euro zone data, while a U.S. employment data on Friday suggested the economy is improving but not enough for the Federal Reserve to start scaling back its stimulus program.
During European afternoon trade, the EURO STOXX 50 added 0.14%, France’s CAC 40 eased 0.06%, while Germany’s DAX 30 jumped 1.01%.
In the euro zone, the Sentix investor confidence index improved to minus 11.6 in June, from a reading of minus 15.6 the previous month, compared to expectations for an improvement to minus 10.0.
Also Monday, official data showed that French industrial production rose 2.2% in April, beating expectations for a 0.3% gain, after a 0.6% decline the previous month.
In the U.S., official data on Friday showed that the economy added 175,000 jobs last month, slightly more than the 170,000 gain forecast by economists. The unemployment rate ticked up to 7.6% from 7.5% in April.
Financial stocks remained broadly higher, as shares in French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale rose 0.77% and 0.30%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank rallied 1.92%.
However, among peripheral lenders Spanish banks BBVA and Banco Santander fell 0.14% and 0.01% respectively, while Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo slipped 0.14%.
Elsewhere, Elan surged 6.64% after the board instructed its advisers to assess "unsolicited" enquiries after unanimously rejecting Royalty Pharma’s USD6.7 billion takeover.
In London, FTSE 100 dipped 0.02%.
Severn Trent continued to lead losses, plunging 5.46% after Borealis Infrastructure Management and its partners in the LongRiver group abandoned a GBP5.3 billion offer for Severn Trent after the U.K. water utility declined to negotiate with the group.
Adding to losses, mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton tumbled 1.39% and 1.66% respectively, while Anglo American and Polymetal plunged 3.54% and 5.48%.
In the financial sector, stocks were mixed. HSBC Holdings and Lloyds Banking declined 0.08% and 0.51%, while Barclays and the Royal Bank of Scotland jumped 1.23% and 1.95%.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.29% rise, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.34% increase, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.33% gain.
During European afternoon trade, the EURO STOXX 50 added 0.14%, France’s CAC 40 eased 0.06%, while Germany’s DAX 30 jumped 1.01%.
In the euro zone, the Sentix investor confidence index improved to minus 11.6 in June, from a reading of minus 15.6 the previous month, compared to expectations for an improvement to minus 10.0.
Also Monday, official data showed that French industrial production rose 2.2% in April, beating expectations for a 0.3% gain, after a 0.6% decline the previous month.
In the U.S., official data on Friday showed that the economy added 175,000 jobs last month, slightly more than the 170,000 gain forecast by economists. The unemployment rate ticked up to 7.6% from 7.5% in April.
Financial stocks remained broadly higher, as shares in French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale rose 0.77% and 0.30%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank rallied 1.92%.
However, among peripheral lenders Spanish banks BBVA and Banco Santander fell 0.14% and 0.01% respectively, while Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo slipped 0.14%.
Elsewhere, Elan surged 6.64% after the board instructed its advisers to assess "unsolicited" enquiries after unanimously rejecting Royalty Pharma’s USD6.7 billion takeover.
In London, FTSE 100 dipped 0.02%.
Severn Trent continued to lead losses, plunging 5.46% after Borealis Infrastructure Management and its partners in the LongRiver group abandoned a GBP5.3 billion offer for Severn Trent after the U.K. water utility declined to negotiate with the group.
Adding to losses, mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton tumbled 1.39% and 1.66% respectively, while Anglo American and Polymetal plunged 3.54% and 5.48%.
In the financial sector, stocks were mixed. HSBC Holdings and Lloyds Banking declined 0.08% and 0.51%, while Barclays and the Royal Bank of Scotland jumped 1.23% and 1.95%.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.29% rise, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.34% increase, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.33% gain.