European stocks were slightly lower on Friday as investors awaited the release of euro zone inflation data.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 index down 0.2% at around 8:50 a.m. London time, with most sectors and major bourses in negative territory. Telecom stocks led the losses, down 0.6%, while mining stocks rose 0.5%
France’s CAC 40 index dipped 0.1% on Friday amid ongoing political turmoil. It comes shortly after the country’s risk premium drew level with Greece’s for the first time.
On the data front, investors will closely monitor flash euro zone inflation data for November, due to be released at 10 a.m. London time. The reading comes ahead of the European Central Bank’s last meeting of the year on Dec. 12.
France’s harmonized inflation rate came in at 1.7% in November, up slightly from 1.6% in October, according to preliminary data from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee).
The November reading was in line with the expectations of economists surveyed by the Wall Street Journal and remains below the European Central Bank’s 2% target.
Across the Atlantic, U.S. markets reopen for a shortened trading session after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Asia-Pacific markets mostly lost ground on Friday, led by losses in South Korean stocks, while strong inflation data from Tokyo boosted expectations of an imminent rate hike from the Bank of Japan.
