Europe open: Shares slip into red amid quiet trade

(Sharecast News) - European shares fell at the open on a quiet Halloween Friday as investors took a breather ahead of the weekend and assessed the European Central Banks's decision to keep rates on hold. The pan-regional Stoxx 600 index was down 0.17% at 573 by 0835 GMT with all major bourses in the red.

European interest rates were kept on hold at 2% on Thursday, in line with expectations and the third such consecutive move.

In regional economic news, German retail sales rose 0.2% in September compared with the prior month, federal statistics office Destatis said on Friday.

The year-on-year figure was unchanged, it added.

Food retail sales rose 0.3% month-on-month, while non-food sales were down 0.6%. Internet and mail-order trade increased 0.4% compared with August and increased 3.7% compared to September 2024.

In equity news, shares in industrial lubricants maker Fuchs surged as it beat third-quarter earnings estimates.

Cosmetics company Puig was in the pink after sold quarterly earnings posted on Thursday.

Scor fell as the weak margins offset a profit beat by the French insurer.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com