The European markets rose Friday after reports showed Eurozone industrial production rose at a record pace in January and U.S. retail sales unexpectedly increased last month.
The U.S. Commerce Department said in its report that retail sales rose by 0.3% in February following a downwardly revised 0.1% increase in January. The sales growth came as a surprise to economists, who had expected sales to edge down by 0.2% compared to the 0.5% growth originally reported for the previous month.
The Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary consumer sentiment index for March fell to 72.5 from February's final reading of 73.6. Economists had expected the index to edge up to a reading of 74.0.
Eurozone industrial output increased 1.7% month-on-month in January after an upwardly revised 0.6% growth in December, Eurostat said Friday. Economists had forecast a modest increase of 0.7%. The January increase was the biggest since records began in 1990.
Crude for April delivery fell $1.04 to $81.07 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, by the time the European markets closed.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of pan-European blue chips closed 0.28% higher at 1,058.97 points, while the narrower DJ Stoxx 50 index rose 0.14% to 2,581.57 points.
Around Europe, the U.K.'s FTSE 100 index rose 0.15% to 5,625.65 and Germany's DAX index surged up 0.28% to 5,945.11, while France's CAC 40 index declined 0.04% to 3,927.40.
Siemens, Europe's largest engineering company, rose 1.7% and Nexans, the world's biggest maker of cables and wires, surged up 3.4% after the report showing increase in Eurozone industrial output was released.
Yara International rallied 6.7% after the company said it would not raise its offer for Terra Industries to match or exceed a rival bid from CF Industries.
BskyB, Britain's biggest pay-television provider, climbed 5% on market talk that Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., which already owns 39% of BskyB, may be planning to bid for the stake it doesn't already own.
EFG Eurobank Ergasias, Greece's second largest bank, rose 2.6% after the company reported fourth quarter profit that beat analysts' estimate.
On the other hand, Swiss drugmaker Roche fell 3% after the company said its Avastin cancer drug failed to extend overall survival n men with late stage prostate cancer when given in combination with chemotherapy and prednisone in a late-stage trial.
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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.