... Dynamics and Trade Agreements European stock markets closed the week relatively calmly. The pan-European STOXX 600 index hovered around the 547-point mark, virtually unchanged for the week. Macroeconomic signals from Europe were mixed. In Germany, the Ifo Business Climate Index unexpectedly rose slightly in July to 88.6 points (up from 88.4 in June), although analysts had anticipated a decline. This small increase in business confidence indicates that the largest economy in Europe is temporarily avoiding a deepening recession,...

... hovered around 547 points on Friday, showing virtually no change for the week. Investors are assessing mixed signals: on the one hand, some corporate reports were encouraging, while on the other, macroeconomic data remains ambiguous. In Germany, the Ifo business climate index unexpectedly edged up in July (to 88.6 points from 88.4 in June), although this remains below forecasts. This modest increase in business sentiment suggests that the largest economy in Europe is avoiding a deeper recession for now, although companies ...