European equity markets saw a quiet conclusion to the week, with the STOXX 50 advancing by 0.3% and the STOXX 600 remaining stable on Friday. Traders exercised caution in anticipation of new market catalysts, closely followed corporate updates, and prepared for the upcoming earnings season. Additionally, market participants continued to monitor the political landscape in France, where President Macron is expected to announce a new prime minister shortly.
In the automotive sector, stocks rebounded after suffering a significant drop since March. Stellantis rose nearly 2% following a 13% increase in its third-quarter deliveries, primarily fueled by robust sales in North America. Similarly, Mercedes-Benz saw a 2.2% gain, and Volkswagen increased by 0.9%. The banking sector also performed well, with Banco Santander and UniCredit rising by 1% and 0.6%, respectively.
Conversely, the healthcare sector faced some pressure, with key players like Novo Nordisk, Novartis, and AstraZeneca experiencing declines of 0.9%, 0.5%, and 0.9%, respectively. Over the week, the STOXX 50 experienced a 0.4% decline, while the STOXX 600 managed a slight 0.1% increase.
