Europe midday: Shares down as BoE, Norges Bank hold rates
By Frank Prenesti
Date: Thursday 06 Nov 2025
(Sharecast News) - European shares were lower on Thursday as investors assessed eurozone survey and retail sales data, while the Bank of England and Norway's central bank kept interest rates on hold.
The pan-regional Stoxx 600 index was down 0.16% at 570.96 by 0817 GMT with all major bourses in the red.
In a tight decision Bank of England policy makers voted 5-4 to keep rates at 4%. Norway's Norges bank did the same, also holding at 4%, as widely expected.
Norges Bank said in a statement: "The committee's assessment is that no new information has come in that indicates a material change to the outlook for the Norwegian economy since the monetary policy meeting in September.
In economic news, eurozone retail sales unexpectedly ticked lower in September, official data showed on Thursday.
According to Eurostat, the official statistical office of the European Union, the volume of retail trade fell by 0.1%. Consensus has been for a 0.2% uplift. Across the wider EU, volumes were unchanged.
Meanwhile, output fell sharply across the eurozone construction sector in October, a closely-watched survey showed on Thursday.
The HCOB Eurozone construction PMI total activity index shed two points to 44.0, the most pronounced decline in eight months. A reading below the 50.0 benchmark indicates contraction, while one above it suggests growth.
Respondents flagged a sharp reduction in new orders, especially in the housing and civil engineering sub-sectors.
German industrial production missed estimates but still rebounded to rise 1.3% month-on-month in September, according to official data published on Thursday.
The figure compares with a sharp 3.7% fall in August and expectations of a 3% rise. Federal statistics office Destatis said the change was driven by production in the automotive and electronics industries, while production in manufacturing dropped.
Activity in the construction sector weakened, dropping by 0.9% month on month.
On the equities front, shares in recruitment firm Adecco surged after it said it expected continued momentum in the final quarter of the year.
Fashion brand Zalando also jumped after posting higher quarterly profits.
Lab diagnostics maker Diasorin slumped after results published late on Wednesday.
Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com
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