Investing.com - European stocks were mixed to higher on Thursday, as disappointing euro zone data sparked fresh expectations for more easing by the European Central Bank, while markets awaited the release of highly anticipated U.S. economic reports later in the day.
During European afternoon trade, the EURO STOXX 50 added 0.14%, France’s CAC 40 dipped 0.02%, while Germany’s DAX 30 gained 0.39%.
Official data confirmed that consumer price inflation in the euro zone fell 0.1% in April from the previous month, with the annual rate of inflation slowing to 1.2% from 1.7% in March.
A separate report showed that the euro zone posted a record trade surplus in March as imports fell 1% from February, while exports grew 2.8%.
On Wednesday, data showed that the euro zone economy contracted by 0.2% in the three months to March bringing the annualized rate of decline to 0.9%.
Financial stocks were mixed, as French lenders Societe Generale and BNP Paribas added 0.18% and 0.28%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank retreated 0.49% and 2.98%.
Peripheral lenders turned broadly higher on the other hand, with Spanish bank Banco Santander edging up 0.18%, while Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo and Unicredit gained 0.68% and 2.10% respectively.
Elsewhere, Zurich Insurance plummeted 3.81% after Switzerland’s biggest insurer reported first-quarter net income of USD1.06 billion, missing analysts' estimates.
Vivendi tumbled 2.35% amid reports Activision has halted discussions on buying back shares held by the French mass media company after a disagreement on price.
In London, FTSE 100 added 0.23%, supported by sharp gains in financial stocks.
HSBC Holdings saw shares inch 0.01% higher and Barclays jumped 1.34%, whil the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking rallied 1.58% and 1.65%.
Meanwhile, mining companies continued to trend broadly lower, as BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto slid 0.24% and 1.72% respectively, while Anglo American plummeted 1.65%.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a steady open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.03% gain, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.02% dip, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.03% rise.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to produce official data on building permits, housing starts, consumer inflation and initial jobless claims, as well as the Philly Fed manufacturing index.
During European afternoon trade, the EURO STOXX 50 added 0.14%, France’s CAC 40 dipped 0.02%, while Germany’s DAX 30 gained 0.39%.
Official data confirmed that consumer price inflation in the euro zone fell 0.1% in April from the previous month, with the annual rate of inflation slowing to 1.2% from 1.7% in March.
A separate report showed that the euro zone posted a record trade surplus in March as imports fell 1% from February, while exports grew 2.8%.
On Wednesday, data showed that the euro zone economy contracted by 0.2% in the three months to March bringing the annualized rate of decline to 0.9%.
Financial stocks were mixed, as French lenders Societe Generale and BNP Paribas added 0.18% and 0.28%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank retreated 0.49% and 2.98%.
Peripheral lenders turned broadly higher on the other hand, with Spanish bank Banco Santander edging up 0.18%, while Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo and Unicredit gained 0.68% and 2.10% respectively.
Elsewhere, Zurich Insurance plummeted 3.81% after Switzerland’s biggest insurer reported first-quarter net income of USD1.06 billion, missing analysts' estimates.
Vivendi tumbled 2.35% amid reports Activision has halted discussions on buying back shares held by the French mass media company after a disagreement on price.
In London, FTSE 100 added 0.23%, supported by sharp gains in financial stocks.
HSBC Holdings saw shares inch 0.01% higher and Barclays jumped 1.34%, whil the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking rallied 1.58% and 1.65%.
Meanwhile, mining companies continued to trend broadly lower, as BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto slid 0.24% and 1.72% respectively, while Anglo American plummeted 1.65%.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a steady open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.03% gain, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.02% dip, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.03% rise.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to produce official data on building permits, housing starts, consumer inflation and initial jobless claims, as well as the Philly Fed manufacturing index.