European stock markets opened lower on Friday after hitting record highs earlier this week.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 index moved 0.1% lower when markets opened. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 was down by 0.25%, and Germany’s DAX was lower by 0.3%. Meanwhile, France’s CAC 40 opened flat.
Asia-Pacific markets were mixed Friday, after Wall Street rose overnight as President Donald Trump signed a reciprocal tariffs plan, but did not enact the levies immediately.
Mainland China’s CSI 300 Index rose 0.86%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index surged 3.06%, extending its gains from the previous session.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 ended the day 0.79% lower at 39,149.43, while the broader Topix index lost 0.23% to close at 2,759.21.
In European markets, British lender NatWest reported its full-year earnings, beating estimates on profit and revenues. The company, which is still partly owned by the state, said that the U.K. government had reduced its stake in the bank from 7.98% to 6.98%.
