Investing.com - European stocks were mixed on Thursday, after the release of strong manufacturing data out of Spain, while disappointing economic reports from China weighed.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 edged up 0.08%, France’s CAC 40 slid 0.31%, while Germany’s DAX 30 inched 0.06% higher.
Markit research group said Spain's manufacturing purchasing managers' index rose to 50.8 in December, from a reading of 48.6 the previous month, beating expectations for a rise to 49.9.
But investors remained cautious after a report earlier showed that China’s final HSBC Purchasing Managers Index inched down to 50.5 in December from a reading of 50.8 in November.
The data was published one day after a government report showed that China’s manufacturing PMI fell to a four-month low of 51.0 last month from 51.4 in November and worse than forecasts for a decline to 51.2.
Financial stocks were broadly higher, as French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale added 0.21% and 0.24%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank climbed 0.65%.
Among peripheral lenders, Spanish banks Banco Santander and BBVA gained 0.45% and 0.53% respectively, while Italy's Unicredit and Intesa Sanpaolo rallied 1.44% and 1.70%.
Elsewhere, Fiat saw shares skyrocket 14.55% after the Italian carmaker agreed to buy the remaining stake in Chrysler Group that it doesn’t already own.
In London, commodity-heavy FTSE 100 shed 0.41%, weighed by losses in the mining sector.
Shares in Rio Tinto dropped 0.82% and BHP Billiton declined 0.91%, while rivals Vedanta Resources and Polymetal retreated 0.64% and 1.09%.
Meanwhile, financial stocks were mixed as Lloyds Banking edged up 0.14% and the Royal Bank of Scotland gained 0.65%, while Barclays and HSBC Holdings lost 0.20% and 0.79% respectively.
On the upside, Debenhams jumped 1.16% after its chief financial officer resigned.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a flat open.
Later in the day, the euro zone was to release final data on manufacturing activity, while the U.S. was to produce weekly jobless claims data as well as a report by the Institute of Supply Management on manufacturing activity.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 edged up 0.08%, France’s CAC 40 slid 0.31%, while Germany’s DAX 30 inched 0.06% higher.
Markit research group said Spain's manufacturing purchasing managers' index rose to 50.8 in December, from a reading of 48.6 the previous month, beating expectations for a rise to 49.9.
But investors remained cautious after a report earlier showed that China’s final HSBC Purchasing Managers Index inched down to 50.5 in December from a reading of 50.8 in November.
The data was published one day after a government report showed that China’s manufacturing PMI fell to a four-month low of 51.0 last month from 51.4 in November and worse than forecasts for a decline to 51.2.
Financial stocks were broadly higher, as French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale added 0.21% and 0.24%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank climbed 0.65%.
Among peripheral lenders, Spanish banks Banco Santander and BBVA gained 0.45% and 0.53% respectively, while Italy's Unicredit and Intesa Sanpaolo rallied 1.44% and 1.70%.
Elsewhere, Fiat saw shares skyrocket 14.55% after the Italian carmaker agreed to buy the remaining stake in Chrysler Group that it doesn’t already own.
In London, commodity-heavy FTSE 100 shed 0.41%, weighed by losses in the mining sector.
Shares in Rio Tinto dropped 0.82% and BHP Billiton declined 0.91%, while rivals Vedanta Resources and Polymetal retreated 0.64% and 1.09%.
Meanwhile, financial stocks were mixed as Lloyds Banking edged up 0.14% and the Royal Bank of Scotland gained 0.65%, while Barclays and HSBC Holdings lost 0.20% and 0.79% respectively.
On the upside, Debenhams jumped 1.16% after its chief financial officer resigned.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a flat open.
Later in the day, the euro zone was to release final data on manufacturing activity, while the U.S. was to produce weekly jobless claims data as well as a report by the Institute of Supply Management on manufacturing activity.