Europe midday: Stocks fall ahead of ECB decision, Easter break
By Benjamin Chiou
Date: Thursday 17 Apr 2025
(Sharecast News) - European stock markets were lower across the board on Thursday as investors refrained from taking on too much risk ahead of a European Central Bank policy decision and before the long Easter weekend.
At 1415 CEST, the ECB is expected to announce a 25 basis point interest rate reduction, with the deposit rate seen falling to 2.25%.
By 1238 CEST, the Stoxx 600 was down 0.6% with losses of between 0.4% and 0.7% seen across all key indices. Most major markets will be closed for Good Friday and Easter Monday.
The weak start follows hefty losses on Wall Street the previous evening after Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said that policymakers would need to "wait for greater clarity" before making any further moves on interest rates, saying that the central bank was in "challenging scenario".
Powell said that, with Trump's tariff plans set to spur "higher inflation and slower growth", the Fed's dual-mandate goals "are in tension".
In fresh economic data, Destatis reported a 0.7% month-on-month drop in German producer prices during the month of March (consensus: -0.2%).
Later in the session, investors will be on the lookout for weekly US jobless claims, US mid-Atlantic factory sector activity and existing home sales.
In equity news, shares in Siemens Energy were up nearly 13% in Frankfurt after the firm hiked its guidance for the full year on the back of strong demand for gas turbines, gas services and electricity.
London's J Sainsbury was also on the rise after the supermarket chain reported a strong set of full-year results, with solid momentum across its grocery business and a significantly strengthened balance sheet supporting further shareholder returns.
Email this article to a friend
or share it with one of these popular networks:
You are here: news
10 Lower Thames St,
London EC3R 6EN