FX.co ★ European Stocks Mixed Following Wave of Data, Earnings

European stock markets presented a mixed outcome on Wednesday. The Stoxx 50 slipped by 0.5%, whereas the Stoxx 600 climbed 0.5%, marking its seventh consecutive session of gains. Investors were processing a flurry of corporate earnings alongside disappointing economic data from the U.S. Although the day began with losses, a recovery was seen later, driven by gains in the healthcare and banking sectors. In contrast, the automotive industry experienced a downturn of 1.2%, as weak earnings overshadowed President Trump's directive to relax certain auto tariffs. Healthcare stocks enjoyed a rise of 1.3%, buoyed by companies like GSK, AstraZeneca, and Smith+Nephew, who indicated their readiness to handle tariff effects. UBS outperformed market expectations with a profit of $1.692 billion, and Barclays also reported earnings beyond forecasts. Conversely, Volkswagen disclosed a 37% decline in its first-quarter profits, Stellantis retracted its guidance due to trade uncertainties, and TotalEnergies reported an 18% drop influenced by weaker crude oil prices. On a brighter note, Eurozone GDP exceeded projections, with a 0.4% rise in the first quarter following stagnant growth in the previous quarter.