Most European markets are trading just above the flat line on Thursday, following firm cues from Asia and Wall Street overnight, amid hectic activity on the M&A front.
A report released by the Commerce Department showed Wednesday that economic activity in the U.S. decreased by much more than previously estimated in the first quarter.
Investors placed hopes on a rebound in the second quarter, while the data also gave rise to optimism that the Fed will not be prompted to take tough measures sooner.
Meanwhile, French consumer confidence improved in June as general economic expectations and personal financial situation outlook strengthened from the prior month, survey data from the statistical office Insee showed.
Consumer sentiment rose slightly to 86 in June, when it was forecast to remain unchanged at 85.
The Euro Stoxx 50 index of eurozone bluechip stocks is losing 0.09 percent, while the Stoxx Europe 50 index, which includes some major U.K. companies, is falling 0.13 percent.
While Switzerland's SMI is down modestly, the German DAX, the French CAC 40 and the UK's FTSE 100 are marginally higher.
In Frankfurt, Dialog Semiconductor is gaining 5 percent. The company is in preliminary talks with AMS AG about a possible merger of equals. AMS is gaining 4 percent in Zurich.
Fresenius Medical Care is gaining 3.1 percent and Lufthansa is up 1.8 percent.
K+S is losing 2.1 percent. Adidas and Henkel are falling 1.7 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively.
In Paris, Danone is climbing 3 percent. Lafarge is moderately higher after JPMorgan raised the stock to ''Analyst Focus List.''
Peugeot is gaining 2.3 percent. The car maker said all its six labor unions signed an agreement to enhance measures taken under the Jobs and Skills Alignment System.
Vallourec and Michelin are notably lower.
In London, London Stock Exchange Group is surging 7 percent after the company announced the $2.7 billion offer for US asset manager Frank Russell Co.
Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment is rising 7 percent after the online gambling company confirmed that there are no plans to break-up or sell the company.
Barclays is losing 5.3 percent. The lender has been sued by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for its alleged involvement in fraudulent activity related to a trading venue known as "dark pool."
Standard Chartered is losing 4.5 percent. The lender expects lower profit for its first half and fiscal 2014.
Ophir Energy said drilling operations have concluded on the Okala-1 well in the Mbeli Block offshore Gabon and that there were no significant hydrocarbon shows in the target reservoirs. The stock is down 4 percent.
The Asian stocks rose broadly, as investors shrugged off weak U.S. GDP data, betting that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates lower for longer than initially thought.
In the U.S., futures point to a lower open on Wall Street. In the previous session, stocks rose for the first time in three days as pharmaceutical stocks rallied and broadcasters got a lift from a Supreme Court ruling. The Dow rose 0.3 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.7 percent, while the S&P 500 added half a percent.
Crude for August delivery is falling $0.19 to $106.31 per barrel, while gold is losing $12.0 to $1310.6 a troy ounce.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Market Analysis
May 22, 2026 14:46 ET Minutes of the latest Fed policy session was the highlight of the week along with survey data on the U.S. housing market. In Europe, survey data signaled the trends in the euro area private sector. Further, consumer price inflation data from the U.K. was in focus. In Asia, various economic indicators from China drew attention to the health of the economy.