Europe close: Markets finish slightly higher amid weak eurozone data

European shares finished with their heads just above water on Wednesday, as weak eurozone PMI data and poor results from Deutsche Bank and online gambling firm Kindred weighed on sentiment.

The pan-Europe Stoxx 600 index was up 0.09% at 391.90, with the DAX in Frankfurt rising 0.31% to 12,528.90 and Paris’ CAC 40 down 0.18% at 5,607.87.

In Madrid, the IBEX 35 was 0.55% higher at 9,332.20 while Italy’s FTSE MIB was ahead 0.57% at 22,080.32, and back in London, the FTSE 100 ended its session down 0.73% at 7,501.46.

Those moves came after purchasing manager surveys showed July eurozone business growth was weaker than expected, with the manufacturing sector contracting further.

On the currency front, sterling was up 0.45% against the dollar at $1.2496 and 0.54% firmer versus the euro at €1.1214, as Boris Johnson prepared to enter 10 Downing Street.

In equity markets, miners were in the red as copper and iron ore prices declined, with Rio Tinto down 4.6%, Anglo American off 3.25% and BHP 4% weaker.

Aston Martin Lagonda plunged 25.91%, after the luxury car maker cut its sales and profit forecasts for this year, highlighting macroeconomic uncertainty and weakness in UK and European markets.

Shares in Deutsche Bank fell 1.85% after it reported a bigger-than-expected loss.

Kindred Group stock was well into the red, sliding 26.7% after the company reported a 32% fall in first half EBITDA to £61.1m on a 6% revenue rise to £450.6m.

The firm blamed a “tough” comparative period against the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and higher betting duties in core market.