European equities are showing muted activity on Friday as the week wraps up after a series of key central bank decisions.
Economic data from the U.K. provided some support, with retail sales rising for the third consecutive month in August. The Office for National Statistics reported that retail sales volumes climbed 0.5% compared with July, slightly above economists’ expectation of a 0.4% increase. July’s figures were also revised upward to a 0.5% gain.
In market movements, Germany’s DAX Index slipped 0.1%, while the U.K.’s FTSE 100 hovered near flat and France’s CAC 40 inched 0.2% higher.
Corporate activity drove notable stock moves. British telecom giant Vodafone (LSE:VOD) surged after announcing its acquisition of Telekom Romania Mobile Communications S.A., including its post-paid subscriber base, for €30 million.
IG Group Holdings (LSE:IGG) declined following news of its takeover of Independent Reserve, a prominent Australian cryptocurrency exchange.
Meanwhile, Close Brothers (LSE:CBG) fell after delaying the release of its preliminary 2025 results by a week. Auto parts supplier Stabilus (TG:STM) also retreated after lowering its net profit forecast below market expectations.
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