Sharjah 24 – AFP: Stock markets were mixed Friday as traders reacted to data confirming the eurozone is back in recession, weaker-than-expected Chinese numbers and the strong US recovery.
While Europe diverged in midday deals, Asia's main equity indices closed out the week lower.
Wall Street had powered to fresh highs Thursday on news US growth had accelerated more than six percent in the first quarter and jobless claims continued to fall to new pandemic-era lows.
US indices are benefitting also from outsized earnings this week from tech heavyweights Apple, Facebook and Google.
The dollar was higher against the euro on Friday, while oil prices slid on profit-taking.
The eurozone economy fell into a second recession in less than a year in the first quarter, data showed, as slow vaccinations and pandemic lockdowns stopped a rebound.
Germany was the major drag on growth in the January to March period, with exports unable to overcome a steep drop in demand by confined consumers, analysts said.
Frankfurt's DAX 30 index held up however, trading slightly higher nearing the half-way stage.
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