European equity markets were set to open lower on Friday, as this week’s rally began to lose momentum and prompted investors to lock in profits. Sentiment was further dampened by rising bond yields, driven by mounting expectations of a more aggressive tightening cycle by the US Federal Reserve, which weighed on global equities.
Geopolitical risks also added to the cautious mood after President Donald Trump said the US no longer needs an agreement with Iran. In Europe, investors are awaiting a series of key economic indicators, including Eurozone GDP, trade balance, and employment data, as well as final October inflation readings from France and Spain and Germany’s wholesale price figures.
On the corporate side, attention will focus on earnings updates from Enel, Assicurazioni Generali, Grup ACS, and several other major companies. In premarket trading, Euro Stoxx 50 futures were down 0.5%, while Stoxx 600 futures slipped 0.4%.
