How did European stock markets start the day?

European stock markets have opened. Following the opening, the Stoxx Europe 600 benchmark index is trading at 492 points with a 0.1 percent decrease, and the DAX 40 index in Germany is trading at 17,076 points with a 0.1 percent loss.

In the UK, the FTSE 100 index is at 7,717 points with a 0.1 percent loss, the MIB 30 index in Italy is at 31,655 points with a 0.1 percent decrease, the IBEX 35 index in Spain is at 9,934 points with a 0.1 percent drop, and the CAC 40 index in France is at 7,772 points with a 0.1 percent rise.

The euro/dollar parity is currently hovering at the 1.0770 level, 0.1 percent below the previous close.

Analysts stated that concerns in global equity markets regarding the US Federal Reserve (Fed) beginning to cut policy interest rates later than anticipated remain high, and that a negative trend is being observed ahead of the earnings reports expected to be released by major companies in the US.

In Europe, eyes are turned today to the Eurozone's balance of payments data.

On the other hand, yesterday, the German Central Bank (Bundesbank) reported that the German economy could enter a technical recession by contracting in the first quarter of this year, following the last quarter of last year, citing weakening external demand, cautious consumer spending, and the fact that rising financing costs may continue to limit investments.

Analysts noted that in addition to the balance of payments in the Eurozone, leading index data in the US will be monitored today.

News Source: 12punto