Mixed signs on the stock exchanges, with a background of central banks and France

Mixed trends prevail in major European stock markets on Monday, in a week in which both significant news from central banks around the world and data on the course of inflation in the US are expected.

The pan-European index Stoxx 600 is down 0.16%, with the technology sector leading the losses with 2%, while the banking and insurance companies sector recording modest gains. The other pan-European index, Eurostoxx 50is strengthened by 0.16%.

The German DAX declines marginally by 0.05%, with the French CAC 40 to win 0.59% and the British FTSE 100 to record losses of 0.20%.

On the periphery, the Italian FTSE MIB the Spaniard wins 0.29% IBEX 35 increased by 0.19%.

Global investors are expecting consumer price data for the US in March on Tuesday to assess how drastically the Federal Reserve will need to intervene to curb inflation. Many Fed officials are scheduled to speak later in the day, possibly to influence the course of the markets.

In Europe, France’s central president, Emanuel Macron, and the far-right, Marine Le Pen, are vying for a run-off election on April 24.

A victory for the far-right candidate would be a major blow to France and Europe and would certainly be a cause for concern for the markets.

Investors are also watching developments on the war front in Ukraine. Russia’s invasion of the country has intensified the volatility of international oil and other commodity prices, which also affects the course of shares.

The monetary policy makers of the European Central Bank (ECB) are meeting in Frankfurt on Thursday for their next move, aimed at taming rising consumer prices but also offsetting pressures that have limited growth due to the war in Ukraine.