European stocks climb with earnings, central banks in focus

European markets closed higher on Friday as the Stoxx 600 index rose by 0.6% in early trade. Autos led the gains, adding 1.1%, while the oil and gas sector dropped 0.7%. The rebound came after the index closed down 0.5% the previous session. The Bank of England’s decision to hold interest rates steady with a split vote highlighted the uncertain outlook for policymakers. On Wednesday, the US Federal Reserve also left policy unchanged. Corporate earnings played a significant role in share price movement throughout the week, with companies such as Deutsche Bank and BNP Paribas making notable moves. Earnings were quieter on Friday, with Spain’s CaixaBank among the few reporting.