Europe close: Stocks flat as euro continues to drift lower

European stocks finished the week on a flat note despite an unusual flurry of news on the mergers and acquisitions front, with the euro still under pressure against the dollar following European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi’s comments on Thursday.

By the closing bell the benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 index was exactly flat, while Germany’s DAX was up 0.1% and France’s CAC 40 down by 0.1%.

The euro was down 0.53% against the dollar at 1.0870, having fallen to its lowest level since March after Draghi hinted on Thursday that quantitative easing won’t be ended abruptly but stopped short of saying whether it would be extended or wound down.

FXTM Research analyst Lukman Otunuga said: “Euro/dollar was chaotic on Thursday with prices crashing to four-month lows at 1.0915 after the ECB swiftly extinguished the persistent taper talk rumours. Although interest rates and the current €80bn bond buying were left unchanged, markets were injected with volatility after Draghi stated that there were no discussions of extending the current quantitative easing programme beyond March 2017.

“With Draghi signalling that December will be key to take action, this almost mirrors the views of the Fed and reinforces the theme of central bank caution. Euro sensitivity may intensify in the coming weeks as investors re-evaluate the steps taken by the ECB in pending December meeting.”

Meanwhile, oil prices were a little higher as Russia said it was committed to joining an OPEC-led production cut, with Brent crude oil futures up 0.5% at $51.64. Market participants will be eyeing Baker Hughes rig count data later in the session for further clues.

In corporate news, German software group SAP was in the black after it lifted the lower end of its 2016 operating profit forecast range and posted a small jump in third-quarter operating profit.

Valeo rallied after raising its profitability target for the year and reporting a 16% rise in third-quarter sales, while Yara International pushed higher after better-than-expected third-quarter numbers.

On the downside, British American Tobacco retreated after announcing plans to buy the remaining stake in Reynolds American it does not already own.

Late afternoon reports indicated Reynolds might hold out for a higher offer.

Ericsson fell sharply after saying it had swung to a loss in the third quarter.

Daimler was weaker as it reported an increase in third-quarter operating profit but downgraded its revenue forecast.

InterContinental Hotels slipped as its third-quarter revenue per room rose more slowly than expected.