Europe midday: Medical product makers in focus on tariff threat

(Sharecast News) - European shares were lower on Thursday as investors looked ahead to key US jobs data later in the day, while medical equipment stocks were under pressure on reports the Trump administration is starting a probe into imports as a prelude to more tariffs.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was down 0.43% to 551 at 1156 BST. Germany's DAX declined 0.67% to 23,602 and France's CAC 40 slid 0.47% to 7,804.

US shares were weaker ahead of weekly jobless claims and a final reading of second-quarter GDP scheduled for release later in the day followed by the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index - the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure - on Friday. Traders will be looking for any clues on further rate cuts this year.

Switzerland's central bank kept rates on hold at zero as it warned that Trump's tariffs had would hit the domestic economy going into 2026. The country was slapped with a shock 39% tariff rate on exports to the US at the end of July.

"The prevailing narrative for financial markets this month is that the AI boom combined with central bank support and rate cuts will sustain the equity market rally for the long term," said XTB research director Kathleen Brooks.

"Thus, the recent wobble in stocks - US stocks suffered some modest losses in recent days - has not led to a spike in volatility or fears that the sell off could deepen."

"The one risk for stocks that has yet to be priced in is a split at the Federal Reserve. In the past week, Treasury bond yields have risen, reversing weeks of declines. This is in response to some mixed commentary from Federal Reserve members."

"Interestingly, since August, Bloomberg's Fed Speak Index has been trending higher. Although the newest member, Stephen Miran, is an uber dove, other longer-term members are sounding concerned about inflation and cutting rates when the economy remains strong."

In economic news, German consumer sentiment looked was set to rise slightly heading into October, but remained in negative territory, as a more optimistic view about income prospects was offset by worries over geopolitics, jobs and inflation, a survey published on Thursday showed.

The GfK/NIMconsumer sentiment index rose to -22.3 points in October from a slightly upwardly revised -23.5 points this month.

On the equities front, medical equipment makers such as Convatec, Siemens Healthineers, Gettinge, Demant, Sonova, Philips and Carl Zeiss Meditec all fell on news the US Department of Commerce has started investigations into personal protective equipment, medical consumables, and medical equipment.

Swedish fashion retailer H&M surged on better than expected third quarter results.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com