Investing.com - European stocks were steady to lower on Friday, as investors turned their attention to a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of the G-20, in Germany.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 fell 0.10%, France’s CAC 40 eased 0.07%, while Germany’s DAX 30 slid 0.37%.
Equity markets had rallied after the Fed’s policy statement was seen as less hawkish than expected on Wednesday, by sticking to projections of three total rate hikes in 2017 and not four as some traders had hoped for.
Sentiment also strengthened after centre-right Prime Minister Mark Rutte beat anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders in the Dutch election on Wednesday, easing concerns over a potential Dutch exit from the European Union.
Financial stocks were broadly higher, as French lenders BNP Paribas (PA:BNPP) and Societe Generale (PA:SOGN) advanced 0.79% and 0.75%, while Germany’s Deutsche Bank (DE:DBKGn) and Commerzbank (DE:CBKG) climbed 0.69% and 1.90%.
Among peripheral lenders, Italy’s Intesa Sanpaolo (MI:ISP) and Unicredit (MI:CRDI) advanced 0.65% and 0.41% respectively, while Spanish banks Banco Santander (MC:SAN) and BBVA (MC:BBVA) added 0.05% and 0.57%.
German airliner Deutsche Lufthansa AG (BE:LHABy) added to gains, with shares up 2.37%, still supported by better than expected earnings for 2016 reported on Thursday.
On the downside, Nordea Bank AB (ST:NDA) plunged 5.30% after the Nordic lender’s chairman said on Thursday that he will likely propose moving the Swedish headquarters if the government raises fees for the country's banking rescue fund.
In London, commodity-heavy FTSE 100 dipped 0.01%, weighed by losses in the mining sector.
Shares in Glencore (LON:GLEN) dropped 0.38% and Randgold Resources (LON:RRS) lost 0.92%, while rival company Fresnillo (LON:FRES) tumbled 1.13%.
Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (LON:HIK) remained one of the worst performers on the index for a second consecutive session, with shares down 1.42% after the drugmaker reported on Thursday a decline in full year profit, due to a loss in the generic drugs division.
Meanwhile, financial stocks were mostly higher, as Lloyds Banking (LON:LLOY) and HSBC Holdings (LON:HSBA) added 0.12% and 0.21%, while Barclays (LON:BARC) gained 0.76% and the Royal Bank of Scotland (LON:RBS) jumped 1.50%.
Berkeley Group Hldgs (LON:BKGH) was the top performer in the index, with shares soaring 6.11% after home builder indicated that profits will hit the top end of analysts expectations, despite a slowing housing market in London.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a steady to lower open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.02% dip, S&P 500 futures showed a 0.11% fall, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.02% downtick.