Investing.com - European stocks edged lower on Thursday, as investors were still digesting fresh U.S. political events and as markets were awaiting the Bank of England’s policy decision due later in the day.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 fell 0.13%, France’s CAC 40 edged down 0.11%, while Germany’s DAX 30 eased 0.09%.
Markets were still jittery after U.S. President Donald Trump’s unexpected decision to fire FBI Director James Comey.
Comey had been leading his agency's investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign and possible collusion with Trump's campaign.
Financial stocks were mixed, as French lenders BNP Paribas (PA:BNPP) and Societe Generale (PA:SOGN) lost 0.28% and 0.57%, while Deutsche Bank (DE:DBKGn) slid 0.39% and Commerzbank (DE:CBKG) rose 0.38% in Germany.
Among peripheral lenders, Italy’s Intesa Sanpaolo (MI:ISP) and Unicredit (MI:CRDI) added 0.22% and 0.15% respectively, while Spanish banks Banco Santander (MC:SAN) and BBVA (MC:BBVA) gained 0.36% and 0.56%.
Elsewhere, Prosiebensat 1 Media AG (DE:PSMGn) saw shares dive 4.33% after the German media group reported first-quarter consolidated net profit of €64 million euros compared to €66 million euros the year before.
However, the company also said that first-quarter revenue increased by 13%.
Deutsche Lufthansa AG (BE:LHABy) shares inched up only 0.03% after the airliner said passenger traffic climbed 25% in April and its planes flew at record load factors, helped by late timing of Easter this year and growth from Eurowings and Brussels Airlines.
In London, commodity-heavy FTSE 100 added 0.17%, supported by gains in the mining sector.
Shares in Glencore (LON:GLEN) edged up 0.10% and Fresnillo (LON:FRES) advanced 1.12%, while Antofagasta (LON:ANTO) rallied 1.45%.
Meanwhile, financial stocks were mixed. The Royal Bank of Scotland (LON:RBS) rose 0.23% and HSBC Holdings (LON:HSBA) climbed 0.70%, while Lloyds Banking (LON:LLOY) dipped 0.07% and Barclays (LON:BARC) fell 0.19%.
Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (LON:HIK) was one of the worst performers on the index, with shares down 9.46% ahead of a key decision by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration on whether to approve its generic Advair asthma treatment.
Centrica Plc (LON:CNA) added to losses, as shares plummeted 5.96% after the company’s chief executive Iain Conn warned that the government’s proposed price cap on energy bills could lead to reduced competition and choice, and potentially higher average prices.
Later Thursday, the BoE was expected to leave its monetary policy unchanged. Investors were especially eyeing the central bank’s policy statement for indications on future policy moves.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a moderately lower open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.08% fall, S&P 500 futures showed a 0.08% loss, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.12% decline.