Europe open: Shares open lower ahead of EZ inflation; Kion surges

(Sharecast News) - European shares opened lower, despite an upbeat session on Wall Street overnight, as investors eyed incoming eurozone inflation data.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was 0.26% lower at the open with all major bourses lower.

In economic news, UK house prices fell in December 2024 for the first time since March but ended the year in the black, according to data released by Halifax

House prices declined 0.2% on the month following five consecutive monthly increases, and 1.2% growth in November.

On an annual basis, prices were up 3.3%, down from 4.7% growth in November and leaving the average price of a home at £297,166.

On the equities front, shares in Sodexo fell sharply despite the French food services firm reporting a rise in first-quarter organic revenue growth and holding full-year fiscal guidance.

Next shares gained as the UK fashion retailer lifted guidance yet again but warmed of a slowdown in growth due to higher wage and national insurance costs.

German industrial company Kion surged after announcing a warehouse technology deal with Accenture and chip giant Nvidia.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com