BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European stocks closed higher on Friday as encouraging regional PMI data and a report showing improved consumer confidence lifted investor sentiment even as concerns about Middle East tensions persisted and oil prices remained elevated.
The pan European Stoxx 600 climbed 0.59%. The UK's FTSE 100 closed up by about 0.65%, extending gains to a sixth straight session. Germany's DAX gained 0.59%, snapping a four-day losing streak, while France's CAC 40 moved up 0.37%, after eight successive days of losses. Switzerland's SMI settled with a gain of 0.62%.
Stock markets in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden and Türkiye also closed higher today.
In the UK market, miners gained significant ground in positive territory and contributed to market's firm close. Antofagasta moved up nearly 5.5%. Endeavour Mining, Anglo American, Glencore, Rio Tinto and Fresnillo gained 2%-4%.
JD Sports Fashion rebounded strongly after having plunged sharply in the previous session on weak earnings outlook. The stock ended with a handsome gain of 5.6% today.
AutoTrader Group, 3i Group, Croda International, Reckitt Benckiser, Lion Finance Group, IG Group Holdings, Weir, Coca-Cola HBC, St. James's Place, IMI, Tesco and Pershing Square Holdings moved up sharply.
National Grid, Melrose Industries and Babcock International ended lower by 1.2%-1.3%. BAE Systems, Shell, Legal & General, Vodafone Group, British American Tobacco, Experian and BP also closed weak.
In the German market, Adidas climbed about 2.3%. Scout24, BMW, Siemens, Zalando, Beiersdorf, Gea Group, Continental, SAP, Deutsche Boerse, Deutsche Post, Infineon and Siemens Healthineers gained 1%-2%.
Qiagen dropped 3%. MTU Aero Engines, Fresenius Medical Care and Bayer ended lower by 1%-2%.
In the French market, Stellantis surged nearly 4.5%. Teleperformance climbed 2.9%. ArcelorMittal, LVMH, Hermes International, Sanofi, Kering, Capgemini, Edenred, BNP Paribas and EssilorLuxottica gained 1%-2.3%.
Thales, TotalEnergies and Engie drifted down 1%-1.2%.
On the economic front, the S&P Global Germany Manufacturing PMI jumped to 54.1 in August 2026 from 52.2 in the previous month, surpassing market expectations of 52.0, according to preliminary estimates. It marked the seventh consecutive month of expansion and the strongest pace since May 2022.
Germany's S&P Global Flash Services PMI fell to 48.5 in August 2026 from 49.8 in July, missing market expectations of 50.1, preliminary data showed. The reading marked the fifth consecutive month of contraction and the fastest pace since May.
Data released by the statistical office INSEE showed France's manufacturing business climate index rose to 103 in August, up from July's 101, and marking the strongest reading since January. The business climate improved for a third month in a row to 98 in August from 95 in the previous month, and the highest level since March.
The S&P Global France Composite PMI eased to 48.8 in August 2026 from 49.4 in July and worse than market forecasts of 49.5, flash estimates showed.
The S&P Global France Manufacturing PMI rose to 51.5 in August from 49.8 in July, according to preliminary data. This marked the first expansion in the manufacturing sector since April.
The S&P Global France Services PMI fell to 48.4 in August from 49.6 in July, signaling a faster contraction in services activity, preliminary estimates showed.
The Eurozone flash composite PMI rose to 52.1 in August from 52 in July, reaching a nine-month high and exceeding expectations of 51.7.
The S&P Global Eurozone Manufacturing PMI rose to 52.8 in August from 51.9 in the previous month, surpassing market expectations of 51.8 to mark the fastest pace of expansion in manufacturing activity in four years. The Services PMI was unchanged at 51.7 in August 2026, slightly above market expectations of 51.5.
Data from the Office for National Statistics showed UK retail sales dropped unexpectedly in July on weaker non-food store sales. Retail sales decreased 0.5% month-on-month in July, reversing a revised 0.7% rise in June. Sales were forecast to drop 0.4%.
On a yearly basis, retail sales increased at a slower pace of 1.6% after rising 3.8% in June. Likewise, sales excluding auto fuel grew 2.3%, weaker than the 5% rise in the prior month.
A report from GfK group said the UK GfK Consumer Confidence Index rose to -14 in August from -17 in the previous month, marking the highest level in two years despite lingering geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
Flash estimate from S&P Global showed the S&P Global UK Composite PMI rose to 52.5 in August, firmly above market expectations that it would ease to 51.6. Services sector PMI rose to 52.8 from 52.1, while the manufacturing PMI slowed down to 51.2 from 52.9 a month earlier.
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