The European markets are mixed on Friday, after Germany's Ifo business confidence strengthened in May. The Asian markets also ended mixed while the U.S. futures indicate a lower open after stocks finished in the red overnight.
Germany's business sentiment improved to 105.7 in May from 104.4 in April, reports said citing a survey from the Ifo institute. The reading was forecast to remain unchanged at 104.4. The assessment of current conditions rose to 110, from 107.3 a month ago, above the expected level of 107.2.
On a positive note again, Germany's consumer confidence is set to strengthen in June, results of a survey by market research firm GfK showed. The forward-looking index for June rose to 6.5 in June from 6.2 in May. Economists had forecast the indicator to remain unchanged at 6.2. Detailed data from the Federal Statistical Office revealed that a rebound in consumer spending helped the German economy thwart recession in the first quarter of 2013. However, the continued fall in firms' fixed asset investment and extreme weather conditions stifled the recovery.
French business confidence increased more than expected to 92 in May from 88 in April. It was forecast to rise to 89. According to the business leaders, personal production outlook held steady at -2 and remains below its long-term average.
The Euro Stoxx 50 index of eurozone bluechip stocks is losing 0.44 percent, while the Stoxx Europe 50 index, which includes some major U.K. companies, is falling 0.37 percent.
The German DAX is losing 0.9 percent and the UK's FTSE 100 is falling 0.7 percent. The French CAC 40 is flat while Switzerland's SMI is advancing 0.2 percent.
In Frankfurt, Lanxess is leading the decliners by falling 2.6 percent. Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank are losing 2.4 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively.
Daimler is declining 2.1 percent. Barclays cut the stock to ''Underweight'' from ''Equalweight.''
Bernstein lifted Linde to ''Outperform'' from ''Market-Perform.'' Yet, the stock is falling 0.4 percent.
Credit Suisse reinitiated Deutsche Telekom with ''Outperform.'' The stock is little changed.
Metro is moderately higher, even after a downgrade at Commerzbank.
In Paris, Bouygues is adding 1.9 percent and peer Vinci is gaining 1.1 percent.
Cap Gemini is gaining 1.8 percent. Alstom, Vivendi and Air Liquide are notably higher.
Unibail-Rodamco is flat after the real estate investment trust was cut to ''Neutral'' from ''Buy'' at UBS.
On the falling side is Michelin, which is down 3.4 percent.
Carmaker Renault is down 1.5 percent and lender BNP Paribas is falling 1.4 percent.
Eurasian Natural Resources is declining 2.7 percent in London. Temporary power provider Aggreko is falling 2.2 percent and retailer Next is losing 2.2 percent.
UBS raised UK bank sector to ''Overweight'' from ''Neutral.'' However, HSBC is declining 1.8 percent and Royal Bank of Scotland is losing 1.7 percent.
Pawnbroking services provider H&T Group said volatile gold price would impact results. The stock is plunging more than 10 percent.
S&U is climbing more than 4 percent after the home credit and motor finance provider said its trading remains in line with overall expectations.
Assicurazioni Generali is moderately higher in Milan after the stock was upgraded at JPMorgan.
Across Asia/Pacific, markets ended mixed. Australia's All Ordinaries lost 1.5 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng slid 0.2 percent. China's Shanghai Composite Index and Japan's Nikkei 225 advanced 0.6 percent and 0.9 percent, respectively.
In the U.S., futures point to a lower open on Wall Street. In the previous session, the Dow and the tech-heavy Nasdaq slipped about 0.1 percent each, while the S&P 500 dropped 0.3 percent.
In the commodity space, crude for July delivery is losing $0.78 to $93.47 per barrel and June gold is falling $6.1 to $1385.7 a troy ounce.
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Market Analysis
June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.