STOXX 600 adds 0.8, down 2.1 so far this quarter
French inflation unexpectedly slows in September
Tech stocks gain as euro zone bond yields slide
Revised UK growth data shows faster postpandemic recovery
Sept 29 Reuters European shares rose on Friday, helped by gains in luxury and technology stocks, as investors focused on a slew of economic data towards the end of a tumultuous quarter.
The STOXX 600 index climbed 0.8 by 0755 GMT, with all eyes on the euro zone inflation data, due at 0900 GMT, that could help determine the European Central Bank39;s monetary policy path.
The index is, however, set to end the quarter nearly 2 lower, with Germany39;s DAX lagging regional peers with a 4.6 loss.
German retail sales unexpectedly fell in August, data showed, as persistently high inflation took its toll on consumption in the euro zone39;s largest economy.
In France, inflation unexpectedly slowed in September as easing price rises in the food sector outpaced higher prices in the energy sector, preliminary EUharmonised official data showed.
We see a further decline in core and food inflation in France, while the energy component is now more uncertain, said Claus Vistesen, chief euro zone economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, in a note.
Looking ahead to today39;s EZ inflation print, we39;re sticking with our forecast for a 0.5pp decline, to 4.7, though we now think core inflation fell a bit further than we initially expected, to 4.8.
Luxury stocks such as LVMH and…