Europe open: Shares mixed as AI valuation worries linger

(Sharecast News) - European shares opened slightly mixed on Friday as investors eyed German trade figures and more corporate earnings reports.

The pan-regional Stoxx 600 hovered around the flatline, with most major bourses higher after a week of uncertainty over fears of an AI valuation bubble that has dogged sentiment all week.

"Global stock indices are heading towards a weekly loss after pockets of volatility have knocked market sentiment. The S&P 500 is lower by 1.5% in the last 5 trading sessions, and if this persists then the US blue chip index could experience its first weekly loss in a month," said XTB research director Kathleen Brooks.

"Fears about high AI stock valuations knocked market sentiment once more on Thursday, however, futures prices suggest that the sell off may not gain traction on Friday, and, so far, the S&P 500 is expected to open higher along with the Eurostoxx 50 index, although futures markets are still pointing to a mildly weaker open for the Nasdaq."

In economic news, Germany's trade surplus fell more than expected in September on the back of a sharp rise in imports to the highest level in two and a half years, according to data out on Friday from Destatis.

The calendar and seasonally adjusted trade balance declined to �15.3bn from a revised �16.9bn in August, and below the �18.0bn recorded in September 2024, the Federal Statistics Office reported.

This was well below the consensus forecast of �16.8bn and the smallest surplus since October 2024.

Among equities movers, ITV shares surged by a fifth after the company conformed it was in talks with Sky to sell its broadcasting arm for �1.6bn.

Rightmove tanked as the property website warned profit growth would slow as it pumped more cash into AI.

IAG shares fell after the airline group after weak US demand hit earnings.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com