European equities showed a mixed trend on Monday as investor caution grew over the risk of a potential U.S. government shutdown.
Economic updates were limited, but fresh Bank of England figures indicated a slowdown in housing activity. U.K. mortgage approvals slipped to 64,700 in August, down by 500 from July and slightly below expectations of 65,000. Secured lending eased by £0.2 billion to £4.3 billion, following a steeper decline of £0.9 billion in the prior month. Consumer credit borrowing held steady at £1.7 billion.
In terms of indices, Germany’s DAX dipped 0.1%, while France’s CAC 40 edged up 0.3% and London’s FTSE 100 gained 0.4%. Rising commodity prices lent support to mining stocks, with Anglo American, Antofagasta, and Glencore all advancing.
Company-specific moves added further divergence. Pets at Home (LSE:PETS) rose after announcing a new chief financial officer. GSK (LSE:GSK) rallied sharply as CEO Emma Walmsley prepared to step down after nearly nine years, handing the reins to Luke Miels, its current commercial chief. CMC Markets (LSE:CMCX) jumped after extending a tech collaboration with Westpac in Australia. On the downside, automaker Stellantis (BIT:STLAM) slipped marginally after naming Joao Laranjo as its new CFO.
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