The major European markets finished under water again on Friday for a second straight session, opening firmly lower and then remaining in the red throughout the trading day to end at session lows.
The markets were down as escalating U.S.-Iran tensions curbed investors' appetite for riskier assets. Investors also watched the latest British political developments after early results from nationwide elections suggested a historic drubbing for Prime Minister Keir Starer's Labor Party.
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Market Analysis
May 08, 2026 15:50 ET Manufacturing and services sector survey results and labor market data from main economies were the highlight on the economics news front this week. Factory orders and jobs report dominated the news flow in the U.S. Similarly, industrial production data from German garnered attention in Europe. In Asia, purchasing managers’ survey results from China and the central bank decision from Australia were in focus.