Europe open: Markets mixed as investors digest EZ PMI data, eye US payrolls

(Sharecast News) - European shares were mixed on Thursday, as investors digested weak eurozone construction survey data and looked ahead to US non-farm payroll figures. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was up 0.05% in early deals at 515 with markets up in the UK, Spain and Germany.

"The US Labor report failed to quell fears about the direction of the world's largest economy. Job openings fell more than expected to 7.67mn, although hires rose 0.2% month on month to 273,000," said Derren Nathan, head of equity research, at Hargreaves Lansdown.

"All eyes now turn to Friday's pivotal non-farm payrolls count which is expected to show an increase of 161,000 and a small fall in the unemployment rate to 4.2%. Markets are still pricing in a 0.25% rate cut this month, but only just, with the odds of a 0.5% cut now shortening further."

In economic news, construction activity in the eurozone remained in the doldrums during August with a sharp fall in new orders and rising prices causing concern as employers laid off staff, according to a survey published on Thursday.

The HCOB eurozone Construction purchasing managers index was unchanged from July's six-month low of 41.4, signalling a steep reduction in total construction activity across the single currency area - a mark below 50 indicates contraction. Activity has now fallen in each of the last 28 months.

Data showed the construction sector remaining in decline midway through the third quarter of 2024, with new orders falling "markedly", leading to a further reduction in construction activity and sustained retrenchment of employment and purchasing.

In equity news, shares in Volvo gained as the vehicle manufacturer announced it had abandoned its target to produce only fully electric cars by 2030, saying it now expects it will also be selling some hybrid vehicles by that date.

SSP shares fell as the travel food outlet operator was hit by a downgrade to 'equalweight' at Morgan Stanley.

Associated British Foods fell as it said like‐for‐like sales at Primark were expected to fall by around 0.5% in the second half of the financial year, with a projected decline of 0.9% in the fourth quarter due to wet weather in the UK and Ireland which hit footfall and seasonal sales in womenswear and footwear.

Housebuilder Vistry gained as it announced a further £130m share buyback as it posted a 7% increase in first-half pre-tax profit.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com