Central Bank Outlooks, Geopolitics Damp European Bourses Midday
European bourses tracked moderately lower midday Friday, as traders monitored global central bank outlooks and weighed ongoing Middle East turmoil.The Bank of Japan increased its benchmark interest rate to 1.25% from 1%, marking a 31-year-high, following recent hikes by the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank.Tech stocks saw gains on continental trading floors, while bank, food and oil shares lagged.Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were down 1.4% at $103.31 a barrel in midday trades.Investors also eyed Wall Street futures flashing green, and solidly higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges.In economic news, European consumer median expectations for inflation in the 12 months ahead rose to 3% last month from 2.9% in July, while the three-year outlook increased to 2.9% from 2.7%, reported the European Central Bank.The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was off 0.6% mid-session.The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 0.2%, but the Stoxx 600 Banks Index lost 1.4%.The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index eased 1.1%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 1.4%.The REITE, a European REIT index, fell 0.4%.On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was down 0.8%, and the FTSE 100 in London lost 0.9%. The CAC 40 in Paris was down 0.9%, and Spain's IBEX 35 eased 1%.Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were marginally higher, near 3.5%.The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 2.2% at 17.88, but still indicating below-average volatility for European stock markets in the next 30 days, a positive signal. A reading above 20 indicates choppier markets ahead, while below 20 suggests calmer exchanges.
