537 stories mentioning STOXX Europe 600Updated 53m ago
Hit fresh record highs after Tehran and Washington said the Strait of Hormuz would reopen as part of peace negotiations.
Operating conditions in Italy's manufacturing sector improved the most in May in just over four years as demand recovery due to safety stockpiling led to a pickup in new orders and faster output expansion, S&P Global said Monday.The S&P Global Italy manufacturing PMI rose to 52.9, the highest since April 2022, from 52.1 in April 2026. The consensus estimate for the month was 52.
The improvement in Spain's manufacturing sector conditions eased in May as new orders and employment fell, while production expanded only slightly amid the ongoing war in the Middle East, S&P Global said Monday.The seasonally adjusted S&P Spain manufacturing PMI fell to 51.2 from 51.7 a month earlier, missing the consensus estimate of 52. The "modest" growth in sector performance was marginally above the historical trend.
Germany's retail sales dropped 0.3% month over month in real terms in April, consistent with the revised 0.3% decline in March, according to data from the Federal Statistical Office published Monday.Analysts expected a 0.4% decrease for the month.On a yearly basis, Germany's retail sales were also 0.3% lower, compared with the revised 0.2% fall earlier.
Germany's annual inflation rate fell to 2.6% in May from 2.9% in April, according to provisional data from the country's Federal Statistical Office published Friday.The latest reading is lower than the consensus estimate of 2.9%.On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged down 0.2%, against the previous 0.6% rise and the expected 0.1% increase.The annual harmonized inflation rate was 2.7%, compared with the prior 2.9% and the market forecast of 2.8%. Meanwhile, harmonized consumer prices fell 0.1% month over month, against the previous reading of a 0.5% rise and the expected 0.2% increase.
European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Friday on media reports that Washington and Tehran may agree to a 60-day ceasefire deal that could open the Strait of Hormuz in the next 30 days.Bank and tech stocks led gains on continental trading floors, while oil shares lagged.Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were down 1.9% at $90.97 a barrel.Investors also eyed Wall Street futures modestly in the green, and higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges, including all-time zeniths set on equity indices in Seoul, Taiwan and Tokyo.In economic news, the European Central Bank (ECB) should hike its key interest rate by 0.25% in June, said ECB governing council member Gediminas Simkus, reported Econostream. A 50 basis-point June increase would be too high, added Simkus.The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.6% mid-session.The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 1.1%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index also gained 1.1%.The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index eased 0.3%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 0.1%.The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.7%.On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.1%, and the FTSE 100 in London gained 0.3%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.7%, and Spain's IBEX 35 lifted 1%.Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were steady, near 2.96%.The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 2% at 19.09, 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.
The number of unemployed individuals in France fell to 3,100,100 in April from 3,109,100 in March, according to government data published Friday.Meanwhile, initial jobless claims declined by 9,000, against the 35,600 increase in the previous month.
Italy's quarterly gross domestic product increased 0.3% in the first quarter, consistent with the prior three-month period, final data from statistics agency Istat showed Friday.The reading is above the initial estimate of a 0.2% increase.On a yearly basis, the Italian economy expanded 0.8% in the first quarter, against the initial reading of a 0.7% growth.
Steady inflation in Spain and rising prices in France for May are supporting calls for the European Central Bank to lift interest rates at its upcoming June meeting.In Spain, preliminary data showed consumer prices rose 3.2% year over year in May, matching the previous month's reading and against the consensus estimate from Investing.com of 3.3%. Meanwhile, the nation's annual core inflation rate increased to 2.9% from 2.8%.The index faced upward pressure from the transport, recreation, sporting and culture sectors, where price drops were softer than in May 2025. On the other hand, clothing and footwear pulled prices lower, while food and non-alcoholic beverages also provided downward relief, with prices remaining stable against the previous year's increases.Concurrently, France's flash annual inflation rate for May 2026 accelerated to 2.4% from the previous month's 2.2%. While the print came in slightly below the expected 2.5%, inflation increased for the fourth straight month and reached its highest level since February 2024.The increase was primarily fueled by rising energy costs, with gas prices surging amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.ECB Executive Board member Isabel Schnabel said in an interview with Reuters published on Tuesday that the central bank will likely need to raise interest rates during its next Governing Council meeting starting June 10 to combat a "much more persistent" inflation shock that is "working its way through the economy."As headline inflation in the euro area hit 3% and is expected to climb toward 4% by year-end, Schnabel warned that "looking through is no longer an option." However, she maintained that the ECB avoids pre-committing to a post-June trajectory, remaining "strictly data dependent."Following the release of the ECB's April meeting minutes on Thursday, ING highlighted Schnabel's comments as confirmation that a June rate hike is "almost a done deal." ING's global head of macro Carsten Brzeski said a 25-basis-point "insurance rate hike" poses less risk to economic growth than the loss of credibility the ECB would face by "falling behind the curve.""What's even more interesting is what will happen beyond the June meeting. As long as fiscal stimulus remains muted, the risk of an outright inflationary spiral remains small, making an aggressive monetary policy reaction to the current energy price shock unlikely," Brzeski added.
Italy's annual inflation rate increased to 3.2% in May from 2.7% in April, provisional data from statistics agency Istat showed Friday.The consensus estimate for the month was 3.2%.On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.4%, compared with the market forecast of a 0.1% increase and the prior 1.1% gain.The Italian harmonized inflation rate stood at 3.3% on an annual basis, against the previous reading of 2.8% and the expected 3.2%. Month over month, harmonized consumer prices were 0.4% higher, against the prior 1.6% rise and the forecast of 0.3%.
Italy's unemployment rate came in at 5.1% in April, down from 5.2% in March, provisional data from national statistics agency Istat showed Friday.The latest reading compares with the consensus estimate of 5.3%.
Spain's current account surplus increased to 4.61 billion euros in March from 4.04 billion euros in February, according to Bank of Spain data published Friday.In the three months to March, the current account surplus totaled 11.38 billion euros, against 9.90 billion euros a year earlier.
Germany's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 6.3% in May from 6.4% in April, according to government data published Friday.The reading is below the consensus forecast of 6.4% for the month.Meanwhile, the number of unemployed individuals in Germany fell by 12,000 in May, against the revised 19,000 increase earlier and the expected jump of 11,000, according to Investing.com data.
The number of German companies planning to increase prices "somewhat" eased in May, even as producer and consumer prices are anticipated to "rise significantly" in the months ahead, the ifo Institute said Friday.Month over month, the indicator for price expectations edged down to 30.3 points from 31.3 points in April, with the level still considered "high." The indicator monitors the percentage of companies that plan to hike prices on balance.Sector-wise, price pressures eased in manufacturing, services and trade, with energy-intensive companies experiencing the most significant drop. Meanwhile, non-energy-intensive companies saw price expectations tick up.
Spain's annual inflation held steady at 3.2% for a second month in May, according to provisional data from the National Statistics Institute published Friday.The reading is below the consensus estimate of 3.3%, according to Investing.com data.On a monthly basis, consumer prices in Spain were up 0.1%, against the previous 0.4% rise and the expected 0.2% uptick.The Spanish annual harmonized inflation rate came in at 3.6%, in line with the market forecast and against the previous 3.5%. Month over month, harmonized consumer prices ticked up 0.1%, compared with the 0.7% growth earlier and the expected 0.2% increase.Meanwhile, the country's annual core inflation rate rose to 2.9% from 2.8%.
France's monthly household consumption declined 0.5% in April, following a revised 0.9% growth in March, according to data from statistics agency Insee published Friday.Analysts expected a 0.1% decrease for the month.
France's private nonfarm payroll employment fell 0.1% in the first quarter, consistent with the prior three-month period, final data from statistics agency Insee showed Friday.The final reading confirms the preliminary data.On a yearly basis, private payroll employment in France was down 0.3%.
France's quarterly gross domestic product edged down 0.1% in the first quarter, following a 0.2% rise in the prior three-month period, according to final data from Insee published Friday.The final figure is below the flash estimate of zero growth.On a yearly basis, the French economy grew 0.9%, against the preliminary reading of 1.1% expansion and the previous 1.3% growth.
France's annual inflation accelerated to 2.4% in May, from 2.2% in April, provisional data from statistics agency Insee showed Friday.The consensus estimate for the period was 2.5%.On a monthly basis, consumer prices were 0.1% higher, against the prior 1% jump and the expected 0.3% gain.The flash annual harmonized inflation rate came in at 2.8%, against the previous month's 2.5% and the market forecast of 2.9%. Month over month, harmonized consumer prices edged up 0.1%, against the previous 1.2% rise and the expected 0.3% increase.
Germany's import prices gained 5.3% year over year in April 2026, the highest yearly increase since January 2023, the country's Federal Statistical Office said Friday.A month ago, annual import prices rose 2.3%. The latest figure aligns with market expectations for the month.On a monthly basis, German import prices were 1.2% higher, against the expected 1.1% growth.
Germany's unemployment rate was 3.9% in April, up from 3.8% in the previous year, the country's Federal Statistical Office said Friday.As of April, nearly 1.7 million individuals were jobless in Germany.Adjusted for seasonal and irregular effects, the unemployment rate was unchanged month over month at 3.8%.
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