Europe close: Stocks end slightly mixed ahead of US inflation data

(Sharecast News) - European stocks were slightly mixed on Tuesday as investors assessed the political turmoil in France Prime Minister Francois Bayrou was ousted in a confidence vote a day earlier, while the merger of miners Anglo American and Teck Resources was also in focus. Traders were also waiting on US inflation figures that were due out over the next two days.

The pan-regional Stoxx 600 index ended up 0.14% at 15,023.90, with France's CAC 40 rising 0.19% alongside to reach 7,749.39.

Italy's FTSE Mib meanwhile put on 0.68% to 42,008.22, but the German Dax dipped 0.37% to 23,718.45.

Bayrou, who called the motion, was widely expected to lose the vote as rivals from both left and right combined to oppose 2026 austerity budget plans to tackle the country's massive deficit.

French President Emmanuel Macron will now have to appoint the nation's fifth prime minister in less than two years.

Yet by the end of trading the yield on the benchmark 10-year French government bond was roughly flat at 3.410%, whilst the euro ticked lower and Brent crude was up by a half a percentage point.

In equity markets, London-listed Anglo American jumped 9% after it confirmed its merger with Canada's Teck Resources to create one of the world's top five copper producers. Frankfurt-listed Teck shares jumped more than 21%.

Saab retreated 2% after Barclays initiated coverage on the defence manufacturer with an 'underweight' rating.