© Reuters. Electronic screens display the stock trading movement in the German DAX index on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on Friday. Photo: Reuters.
(Reuters) – European stocks closed higher on Friday as investors assessed mixed results from companies in the region, while falling inflation in the United States boosted sentiment ahead of a week that will see important decisions from central banks.
The index of European shares rose 0.2 percent, extending its gains for the second session in a row and ending the week higher.
H&M, the second largest clothing retailer, fell 4 percent after the company reported a much larger-than-expected drop in operating profit for the September-November period.
The Stoxx 600 index received support on Friday from the indices of the energy sector and the consumer luxuries companies.
And the banking sector index increased 0.6 percent at a time when UniCredit, Europe’s largest bank, is scheduled to announce its results next week.
(Prepared by Mahmoud Abdel-Gawad for the Arabic Bulletin)
