Stocks in Europe were seen trading lower on Friday, falling from its highest level in over six years as trades continue to focus on the ongoing tensions in Ukraine.
The European Euro Stoxx edged 0.37% lower trading at 3,192.60 at the time of writing, while the German DAX lost 0.18% to 9,590.53. At the same time the French CAC 40 dropped 0.40% to 4,489.03, while the benchmark UK FTSE 100 slid 0.27% to 6,820.51.
In the corporate corner, Europe’s second largest telephone company in Spain, Telefonica said the company’s first quarter net earnings slid from 902 million euros last year to 692 million euros due to the weaker demand in Spain and the currency fluctuations.
Meanwhile in France, Alcatel-Lucent reported a net loss narrowed in the first-quarter of 73 million euros from 353 million euros last year, while steel-makers Arcelor Mittal said the company’s net income for the first three months of the year dropped by $205 million, compared to the $345 million loss seen in the same period last year.
The European Central Bank (ECB) kept its benchmark rate unchanged at 0.25%, as forecasted after its meeting on Thursday. However, ECB President Mario Draghi hinted that the central bank could take action at its June meeting.
Asian stocks were seen falling on Friday, while shares in Japan closed higher.
The Japanese benchmark Nikkei 225 index climbed 0.25% to 14,199.59 points, while Tokyo’s Topix index closed 0.47% higher to 1,165.51 points.
In China, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 0.12% lower to 21,810.00 points at the time of writing and China’s benchmark Shanghai Composite lost 0.17% to 2,011.91 points at the same time.
Reports from the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that China’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) expanded by 1.8% on an annual basis in April, following the rise of 2.4% seen in March. A separate report showed that the Producer Price Index (PPI) dropped by 2.0% over the same period, compared to analysts forecast of 1.9%.
South Korea’s Kospi index edged 0.31% higher closing at 1,956.55 points as the South Korean central bank kept its cash rate unchanged at 2.5% on Friday.
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