U.K. stocks lower at close of trade; Investing.com United Kingdom 100 down 0.64%

Investing.com – Italy stocks were lower after the close on Friday, as losses in the Financials, Industrials and Chemicals sectors led shares lower.

At the close in Milan, the Investing.com Italy 40 declined 0.44%.

The best performers of the session on the Investing.com Italy 40 were Amplifon (BIT:AMPF), which rose 2.04% or 0.28 points to trade at 13.98 at the close. Meanwhile, STMicroelectronics (BIT:STMMI) added 1.66% or 0.37 points to end at 22.36 and Davide Campari Milano SpA (BIT:CPRI) was up 1.63% or 0.10 points to 5.98 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Banco Bpm SpA (BIT:BAMI), which fell 1.67% or 0.21 points to trade at 12.38 at the close. Banca Mediolanum SpA (BIT:BMED) declined 1.66% or 0.31 points to end at 18.42 and Prysmian SpA (BIT:PRY) was down 1.53% or 1.28 points to 82.64.

Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Milan Stock Exchange by 360 to 308 and 54 ended unchanged.

Crude oil for January delivery was up 0.16% or 0.09 to $57.69 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in February rose 0.03% or 0.02 to hit $61.30 a barrel, while the February Gold Futures contract fell 0.19% or 8.10 to trade at $4,304.90 a troy ounce.

EUR/USD was unchanged 0.05% to 1.17, while EUR/GBP unchanged 0.23% to 0.88.

The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.11% at 98.10.

Investing.com – Germany stocks were mixed after the close on Friday, as gains in the Utilities, Food & Beverages and Consumer & Cyclical sectors led shares higher while losses in the Construction, Technology and Industrials sectors led shares lower.

At the close in Frankfurt, the DAX declined 0.34%, while the MDAX index climbed 0.19%, and the TecDAX index declined 0.18%.

The best performers of the session on the DAX were Adidas AG (ETR:ADSGN), which rose 1.98% or 3.25 points to trade at 167.50 at the close. Meanwhile, E.ON SE (ETR:EONGn) added 1.80% or 0.27 points to end at 15.25 and Brenntag AG (ETR:BNRGn) was up 1.47% or 0.73 points to 50.52 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Siemens Energy AG (ETR:ENR1n), which fell 4.25% or 5.25 points to trade at 118.25 at the close. Deutsche Bank AG NA O.N. (ETR:DBKGn) declined 3.13% or 1.02 points to end at 31.59 and Commerzbank AG O.N. (ETR:CBKG) was down 2.30% or 0.81 points to 34.44.

The top performers on the MDAX were Gerresheimer AG (ETR:GXIG) which rose 6.62% to 28.04, Deutsche Lufthansa AG (ETR:LHAG) which was up 4.78% to settle at 8.47 and Wacker Chemie O.N. (ETR:WCHG) which gained 4.41% to close at 69.85.

The worst performers were Aixtron SE (ETR:AIXGn) which was down 4.85% to 16.86 in late trade, Kion Group AG (ETR:KGX) which lost 2.63% to settle at 64.80 and Thyssenkrupp AG O.N. (ETR:TKAG) which was down 2.20% to 8.89 at the close.

The top performers on the TecDAX were Hensoldt Ag (ETR:HAGG) which rose 2.45% to 73.05, IONOS Group SE (ETR:IOSn) which was up 1.75% to settle at 26.10 and Nagarro SE (ETR:NA9n) which gained 1.71% to close at 80.25.

The worst performers were Aixtron SE (ETR:AIXGn) which was down 4.85% to 16.86 in late trade, Sartorius AG VZO O.N. (ETR:SATG_p) which lost 2.18% to settle at 242.10 and Elmos Semiconductor AG (ETR:ELGG) which was down 2.08% to 94.10 at the close.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange by 339 to 299 and 27 ended unchanged.

Shares in Deutsche Lufthansa AG (ETR:LHAG) rose to 52-week highs; up 4.78% or 0.39 to 8.47.

The DAX volatility index, which measures the implied volatility of DAX options, was down 7.69% to 15.10 a new 6-months low.

Gold Futures for February delivery was down 0.14% or 5.90 to $4,307.10 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in January rose 0.19% or 0.11 to hit $57.71 a barrel, while the February Brent oil contract rose 0.08% or 0.05 to trade at $61.33 a barrel.

EUR/USD was unchanged 0.05% to 1.17, while EUR/GBP unchanged 0.24% to 0.88.

The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.10% at 98.09.

Investing.com – Belgium stocks were lower after the close on Friday, as losses in the Technology, Healthcare and Industrials sectors led shares lower.

At the close in Brussels, the BEL 20 lost 0.29%.

The best performers of the session on the BEL 20 were Umicore SA (EBR:UMI), which rose 2.84% or 0.45 points to trade at 16.30 at the close. Meanwhile, Syensqo SA (EBR:SYENS) added 2.34% or 1.64 points to end at 71.76 and Azelis Corporate Services NV (EBR:AZE) was up 1.41% or 0.13 points to 9.37 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Lotus Bakeries (EBR:LOTB), which fell 3.25% or 250.00 points to trade at 7,450.00 at the close. UCB SA (EBR:UCB) declined 2.24% or 5.40 points to end at 235.30 and Melexis NV (EBR:MLXS) was down 1.37% or 0.80 points to 57.45.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Brussels Stock Exchange by 51 to 38 and 20 ended unchanged.

Gold Futures for February delivery was down 0.07% or 3.00 to $4,310.00 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in January rose 0.14% or 0.08 to hit $57.68 a barrel, while the February Brent oil contract rose 0.03% or 0.02 to trade at $61.30 a barrel.

EUR/USD was unchanged 0.05% to 1.17, while EUR/GBP unchanged 0.24% to 0.88.

The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.10% at 98.09.

Investing.com -- British stocks declined on Friday, tracking broader European losses, as the pound weakened and new data showed the U.K. economy unexpectedly remained in contraction in October.

The blue-chip index FTSE 100 dropped 0.6% and the British GBP/USD fell 0.3% against the dollar to around 1.3350.

The DAX index in Germany declined 0.3%, the CAC 40 in France lost 0.2%.

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UK round up

The U.K. economy unexpectedly remained in contraction in October, with gross domestic product falling by 0.1% on a monthly basis, according to data released Friday by the Office for National Statistics.

The decline matched the drop seen during the prior month and fell below economists’ expectations of 0.1% growth. On an annual basis, the U.K. economy expanded by 1.1% in October, matching the previous month’s growth but below the 1.4% forecast.

Uncertainty ahead of the Autumn budget presented by Chancellor Rachel Reeves likely contributed to the economic slowdown.

In corporate news, Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) announced it had signed an interim modernized agreement with the Yinhawangka Aboriginal Group regarding the company’s mining operations on Yingawangka land. This interim agreement builds upon their 2013 arrangement, with a full agreement expected to be finalized in 2026.

Capita PLC (LON:CPI) provided a trading update for the 11 months to November 30, noting that while revenue performance in some divisions fell short of expectations, the outsourcing firm’s full-year profit guidance remains unchanged. The company also announced it has reached a transition agreement for its remaining closed book Life & Pensions contracts.

Card Factory PLC (LON:CARDC) lowered its full-year profit guidance, citing persistent consumer pressures affecting high street footfall during its critical trading period. The company now expects to deliver adjusted profit before tax for the full financial year between £55 million and £60 million, down from previous expectations. Card Factory attributed the downgrade to "well publicised" pressures facing UK consumers that have impacted confidence and shopping behavior.

Meanwhile, WH Smith PLC (LON:SMWH) announced it has revised the publication date for its preliminary results for the financial year ended August 31, 2025. The global travel retailer will now release its results on December 19, 2025, later than previously planned in its October 29 announcement.

Investing.com – Sweden stocks were lower after the close on Friday, as losses in the Telecoms, Oil & Gas and Healthcare sectors led shares lower.

At the close in Stockholm, the OMX Stockholm 30 declined 0.28%.

The best performers of the session on the OMX Stockholm 30 were EQT AB (ST:EQTAB), which rose 1.53% or 5.00 points to trade at 331.90 at the close. Meanwhile, Lifco publ AB (ST:LIFCOb) added 1.39% or 4.80 points to end at 350.00 and Essity AB B (ST:ESSITYb) was up 1.35% or 3.50 points to 262.50 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Svenska Handelsbanken AB A (ST:SHBa), which fell 2.14% or 2.85 points to trade at 130.10 at the close. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB A (ST:SEBa) declined 1.66% or 3.20 points to end at 189.55 and Nordea Bank Abp (ST:NDASE) was down 1.49% or 2.55 points to 168.10.

Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Stockholm Stock Exchange by 370 to 367 and 71 ended unchanged.

Crude oil for January delivery was up 0.12% or 0.07 to $57.67 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in February unchanged 0.00% or 0.00 to hit $61.28 a barrel, while the February Gold Futures contract rose 0.01% or 0.30 to trade at $4,313.30 a troy ounce.

EUR/SEK was up 0.48% to 10.90, while USD/SEK rose 0.52% to 9.29.

The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.10% at 98.09.