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European stocks closed mixed on Friday, as investors stayed a bit cautious amid uncertainty about direction after markets<\/span> hit record highs in recent sessions. <\/p>\n Some disappointing economic data from the euro area, signs of rising inflation in China, worries about rising coronavirus<\/span> cases and extended lockdown measures in several countries weighed on stocks.<\/p>\n The downside remained capped after the U.S. Federal Reserve repeated its pledge that monetary policy will likely remain unchanged for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n The pan European Stoxx 600 edged up 0.08%. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 slid 0.38%, while Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 advanced 0.21% and 0.06%, respectively. Switzerland’s SMI climbed 0.28%.<\/p>\n Among other markets in Europe, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain and Turkey closed weak. <\/p>\n Netherlands and Norway ended flat, while Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Iceland and Sweden ended higher.<\/p>\n In the UK market, JD Sports Fashion rallied more than 5%. Spirax-Sarco Engineering, Weir Group, Taylor Wimpey, Burberry Group, Barratt Developments, Kingfisher, Persimmon and Croda International gained 1 to 2.5%.<\/p>\n On the other hand, British American Tobacco, BAE Systems, IAG, Glencore, Entain, Fresnillo, Rio Tinto and Standard Chartered gained 1.4 to 2.5%.<\/p>\n In the French market, WorldLine, Atos, Legrand, Air France-KLM, Veolia, Saint Gobain and Kering closed notably higher, while Valeo, Carrefour, Societe Generale, Renault, Safran and Michelin ended lower by 1.2 to 3%.<\/p>\n In Germany, Deutsche Post, Fresenius, Merck, Adidas, SAP and Daimler gained 1 to 2%. Thyssenkrupp declined more than 2.5%. Continental, Deutsche Wohnen, Lufthansa, Deutsche Telekom and Infineon Technolgies also ended notably lower.<\/p>\n In economic news, German industrial output dropped 1.6% month-on-month in February, while economists had forecast an increase of 1.5%, figures from Destatis revealed.<\/p>\n French industrial production decreased 4.7% month-on-month in February following a 3.2% rise in January, data from the statistical office INSEE showed. Economists had forecast a 0.5% gain. <\/p>\n Germany’s exports continued to grow in February and imports rebounded more than expected, data from Destatis revealed. The trade surplus fell to a seasonally adjusted about EUR 19.2 billion from EUR 21.3 billion a month ago. The expected level was EUR 20 billion.<\/p>\n Switzerland’s jobless rate decreased in March, data from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs showed. The jobless rate fell a seasonally to 3.4% in March from 3.6% in February. Economists had expected a rate of 3.6%.<\/p>\n On an unadjusted basis, the unemployment rate fell to 3.3% in March from 3.4% in the previous month. Economists had forecast a rate of 3.6%. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n Market Analysis<\/p>\n<\/div>\n