Europe midday: Shares in the red as investors look for direction

European stocks were in the red at midday on what could truly be a black Friday for retailers as consumers fretted about a looming recession and soaring inflation.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was 0.14% lower at 0845 GMT with regional bourses mixed.

Investors were hoping against hope that the manufactured retail frenzy known as Black Friday, which starts the Christmas shopping mayhem, would provide some boost for an increasingly anaemic global economy overshadowed by the cost-of-living crisis.

With the Thanksgiving holiday in the US on Thursday, there was also little corporate news to drive sentiment.

In economic news, data showed the German economy grew slightly more in the third quarter than preliminary figures suggested, boosted by consumer spending.

In equity news, Dr Martens was lower again after a profit warning on Thursday.

UK housebuilders Persimmon, Bellway, Barratt and Taylor Wimpey were lower on a note from broker Berenberg reiterating its cautious stance on the sector.

Danish mineral wool producer Rockwool gained on solid third quarter results.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com