Major European Markets Close Roughly Flat After Lackluster Session

The major European markets closed little changed on Friday after a lackluster session as investors refrained from making big moves. Persisting concerns about Middle East tensions and possibility of interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank rendered the mood cautious.

Stronger than expected U.S. nonfarm payroll employment data has raised the possibility of an interest rate hike from the Fed at its upcoming meeting. The European Central Bank is also widely expected to tighten its monetary policy.