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European equities mainly rise on German GDP

Strong foreign trade and buoyant consumption drove Germany's economy, Europe's largest, to better-than-expected growth in the second quarter, federal statistics office Destatis said

European stock markets made limited gains Wednesday after a downbeat session in Asia, with sentiment partly lifted by German economic growth data.

Strong foreign trade and buoyant consumption drove Germany's economy, Europe's largest, to better-than-expected growth in the second quarter, federal statistics office Destatis said.

Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.4 percent between April and June, adjusted for seasonal, calendar and price effects -- twice as fast as analysts surveyed by Factset predicted.

However, the final figure represented a slowdown from the unexpectedly strong 0.7-percent expansion in the first quarter.

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The data pushed Frankfurt stocks to a meagre 0.3-percent gain, while Paris also advanced by the same margin on a slight fall in registered jobless figures in July.

Labour Minister Myriam El Khomri welcomed an indication that the long term out of work jobless total had dipped for a fifth straight quarter.

London ended lower, losing 0.4 percent as weak commodity prices hit the mining and resources sector and following poor results from Glencore.

Europe's indices had rebounded Tuesday after a survey showing eurozone economic activity edged higher in August with few signs that Brexit-linked dangers are emerging.

"German GDP figures... showed steady growth in the economy," said economist Ana Thaker at trading firm PhillipCapital UK.

"This will come as a positive sign following the strong PMI figures of yesterday and growth in the eurozone's largest economy could permeate through the euro area."

London's top faller was Swiss-based miner Glencore, whose share price tumbled 3 percent to 184.05 pence.

Glencore posted a loss of $369 million (327 million euros) for the first half amid collapsing commodity prices. However, that was an improvement on a loss of the $676 million last time around.

On Wall Street, petroleum-linked shares came under pressure ahead of a US oil inventory report with traders awaiting Friday's speech by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen and any sign of an interest rate hike this year.

About 30 minutes into trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood almost unchanged at 18,524.71.

Amid speculation of a rate rise, Yellen's comments on Saturday at a global central bankers meeting in Jackson Hole will be scoured for forward guidance on US central bank policy.

Most bets are on a move just before the end of the year, or in February.

Asian traders likewise waited on Yellen's speech and most regional markets slipped back.

In Asia, Tokyo stocks ended 0.6 percent higher with the market led by strong gains among automakers including Toyota and rival Nissan.

Sydney edged up 0.1 percent, helped by a rally in airline Qantas after the firm posted soaring annual net profit -- and announced a resumption of dividend payments for the first time in seven years.

But most other Asian markets sank as energy firms were again hit by falling oil prices.

- Key figures at 1600 GMT -

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.5 percent at 6,865.8 points (close)

Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 0.3 percent at 10,623.0 (close)

Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.3 percent at 4,435.5 (close)

EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.5 percent at 3,008.6

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.6 percent at 16,597.30 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 3,085.88 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 0.8 percent at 22,820.78 (close)

New York - DOW: DOWN 0.1 percent at 18,524.71

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1264 from $1.1307 Tuesday

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 100.18 yen from 100.23 yen

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3247 from $1.3194