Skip Header
Important information: The value of investments can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. Investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. This is a third-party news feed and may not reflect Fidelity’s views.

Europe midday: EZ survey data hits Stoxx; WoS surges on results

(Sharecast News) - European shares turned red on Thursday as investors digested weaker-than-expected eurozone economic sentiment data, while shares in Swedish fashion chain H&M slumped on poor sales figures.

The pan-regional Stoxx 600 index was down 0.22% to 516.22. France's CAC 40 was 0.49% lower as voters prepared to go to the polls for the first round of voting in the country's national election where far-right parties were expected to put up a strong challenge.

"While we saw early gains for French stocks, the fact that we are seeing them fade once again comes as no surprise as we approach the weekend election. Yesterday saw yet another poll that pointed towards further gains for the Far-Right National Rally party, with a (President Emmanuel) Macron loss becoming increasingly likely," said Scope Markets analyst Joshua Mahony.

In economic news, the eurozone June Economic Sentiment Indicator declined slightly in June to 95.9 from 96.1 in May, missing expectations of a small rise, while employment expectations fell below their long-term average to 99.7.

Eyes are focused on the US personal consumption expenditures price index - the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge - on Friday, with traders hoping easing price pressures will allow room for a rate cut this summer.

In equity news, H&M plunged by 14% after unstable weather in large markets at start of June had a negative impact on sales.

Watches of Switzerland surged after holding annual guidance despite weaker profits driven by lower UK sales of luxury timepieces.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com

Share this article

Related Sharecast Articles

London close: Stocks fall on EU inflation, US jobs data
(Sharecast News) - London stocks closed lower on Tuesday as investors digested eurozone inflation data and a modest increase in US job openings.
Europe close: Stocks trim losses across the continent
(Sharecast News) - European markets were in the red on Tuesday after core inflation proved stickier than expected, but stocks rallied into the close with indices finishing well above their intraday lows.
FTSE 250 movers: Real estate stocks up on Tritax Eurobox M&A activity
(Sharecast News) - The FTSE 250 was keeping its head above water on Tuesday despite a wider sell-off across European stock markets with some big names in the real estate and investment sectors were lifted by M&A activity involving Tritax Eurobox.
Broker tips: Bunzl, National Grid, Sainsbury
(Sharecast News) - Analysts at RBC Capital Markets hiked their target price on distribution group Bunzl from 2,600.0p to 2,700.0p on Tuesday following the company's Q2 trading update.

Important information: This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice. When you are thinking about investing in shares, it’s generally a good idea to consider holding them alongside other investments in a diversified portfolio of assets. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

Award-winning online share dealing

Search, compare and select from thousands of shares.

Expert insights into investing your money

Our team of experts explore the world of share dealing.