Europe open: Shares in cautious mood as AI bubble fears resurface

(Sharecast News) - European shares hovered around the flatline at the open on Friday after another sell-off on Wall Street overnight driven by renewed jitters around an artificial intelligence bubble and disappointing housing data.

The pan-regional Stoxx 600 index was down 0.02% to 618 at 0811 GMT. Germany's DAX and the UK's FTSE 100 bucked the trend, posting gains of 0.12% and 0.27% respectively. France's CAC 40 fell 0.4%.

US stocks closed lower on Thursday after data released shortly after the open revealed that monthly US home sales dropped at their sharpest rate in nearly four years.

Existing home sales fell 8.4% to an annualised rate of 3.91m in January, well below the 4.18m expected by analysts, hitting the lowest level since September 2024.

"The AI scare trade continues to dominate markets, and as new AI tools are introduced, the ripple effects are widening," said XTB research director Kathleen Brooks.

"For example, silver and gold prices plunged on Thursday, as precious metals continue to move with stocks and broader risk sentiment. Gold and silver are both staging a recovery this morning, however they have not recouped the losses."

Investors are also eyeing US inflation data, due later in the day, and a Financial Times report stating President Donald Trump plans to scale back tariffs on steel and aluminum.

In equity news, L'Oreal shares fell as the cosmetics company's fourth-quarter sales missed forecasts.

Safran jumped as the French aerospace group forecast increased revenue and earnings guidance for 2026, after a rise in profits last year driven by strong aftermarket demand for its civil jet engines.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com