European Markets Suffer as Economic Indicators Fall Short

European stock markets closed lower on Friday, largely influenced by disappointing economic data from the Eurozone and the United Kingdom. The Eurozone reported a decline in consumer confidence, while the UK saw a rise in retail sales that fell short of expectations.

In Germany, the DAX index dropped by 0.54%, or 108 points, with Deutsche Bank AG leading the decline, falling by 2.04%. The FTSE 100 in the UK fell by 0.16%, with Severn Trent PLC experiencing a significant drop of 2.64%. France's CAC 40 decreased by 0.09%, as Thales SA slid by 1.54%. The Eurostoxx 50 also lost 0.14%, with Nordea Bank Abp falling by 2.10%.

Despite the negative market performance, the euro strengthened, gaining 0.43% against the dollar, trading at $1.4128 at 5:29 pm CET. Similarly, the pound sterling rose by 0.55% against the US currency, reaching $1.25723.