Investing.com - European markets opened mixed on Tuesday, affected by the ongoing strength in the euro and as investors eyed the release of fresh earnings reports.
The EURO STOXX 50 eased 0.08%, France’s CAC 40 inched 0.07% higher, while Germany’s DAX 30 was up 0.10% by 03:40 a.m. ET (07:40 GMT).
The euro rallied after last Thursday’s minutes of the European Central Bank’s December meeting said officials could consider a gradual shift in policy guidance from early 2018.
The single currency also remained supported following reports on Friday that German coalition party leaders reached a breakthrough in talks to form a new government.
Financial stocks were mixed, as Societe Generale (PA:SOGN) edged up 0.10% and BNP Paribas (PA:BNPP) dipped 0.06% in France, while Germany's Commerzbank (DE:CBKG) and Deutsche Bank (DE:DBKGn) added 0.11% and 0.36%.
Among peripheral lenders, Italy's Unicredit (MI:CRDI) and Intesa Sanpaolo (MI:ISP) gained 0.40% and 0.72% respectively, while BBVA (MC:BBVA) slipped 0.13% and Banco Santander (MC:SAN) added 0.15% in Spain.
Elsewhere, Continental AG (DE:CONG) saw shares rally 1.29% following reports the German auto parts manufacturer hired JP Morgan to advise it on strategic options, including a separation of its current businesses.
In London, FTSE 100 edged up 0.09%, shrugging off the collapse of construction giant Carillion Plc (LON:CLLN) on Monday.
The company, which employs more than 43,000 people, had racked up more than £900 million in debt. It held last-minute talks with the UK government and bankers over the weekend but failed to negotiate a bailout deal.
Trading in Carillion shares was halted following the news.
GKN (LON:GKN) remained one of the top performers on the index for a second consecutive session, with shares up 1.17% asfter Melrose Industries met with GKN shareholders on Monday to convince them of the benefits of its £7 billion takeover offer, which had initially been rejected by management.
Meanwhile, mining stocks were broadly lower on the commodity-heavy index. Shares in Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) declined 0.66% and Glencore (LON:GLEN) retreated 1.07%, while BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) tumbled 1.16% and Antofagasta (LON:ANTO) lost 1.44%.
In its latest production update released on Monday, Rio Tinto said it shipped a record 90 million tonnes of iron ore in the fourth quarter, compared to 85.8 million tonnes in the previous quarter.
In the financial sector, stocks were mixed. Lloys Banking and the Royal Bank of Scotland (LON:RBS) plummeted 1.25% and 1.70% respectively, while Barclays (LON:BARC) eased up 0.08% and HSBC Holdings (LON:HSBA) gained 0.36%.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.81% increase, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.35% gain, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.35% rise.