European equity markets were set for a largely flat open on Friday, as investors braced for a series of key economic releases across the region while keeping a close eye on the latest AI-related developments and persistent tensions in the Middle East. The day’s macroeconomic agenda includes inflation figures from Germany, France and Spain, labor market data from Germany and France, and GDP data from Turkey. On the corporate front, investors are awaiting earnings from several major European companies, including London Stock Exchange Group, Holcim and BASF.
Despite concerns linked to the so-called “AI scare trade,” European stocks have remained resilient, with the benchmark Euro Stoxx 50 index trading near record highs. On the geopolitical side, the United States and Iran have agreed to resume nuclear negotiations next week, following reported progress in Thursday’s talks in Geneva. In premarket activity, Euro Stoxx 50 futures were fluctuating around the flatline.
