The stock markets of Western European countries ended Friday’s trading with strong growth. In addition, the consolidated regional index grew by the end of the month, the maximum in more than a year and a half.
The index of the largest companies in the Stoxx Europe 600 region rose by 1.3% at the close of the session and amounted to 438.29 points. In July, the indicator value rose by 7.7%, which is the highest increase since November 2020, according to Trading Economics.
The German DAX index increased by 1.51%, the French САС 40 – by 1.72%, the British FTSE 100 – by 1.06%. The Italian FTSE MIB and the Spanish IBEX 35 added 2.16% and 0.88% respectively.
The growth of investors’ appetite for risk during the week was supported by strong statistics and the publication of positive company reports. In addition, traders cheered up after the meeting of the US Federal Reserve on Wednesday.
As it became known on Friday from preliminary data, the economies of 19 eurozone countries grew by 0.7% in the second quarter compared to the previous three months. In annual terms, the eurozone GDP increased by 4%. Experts on average predicted an increase in the first indicator by 0.2%, the second – by 3.4%, according to Trading Economics.