A trader working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Microsoft and Alphabet were due to publish earnings after the close of markets on Wall Street. Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
It was a weak day for financial stocks across Europe, with Bank of Ireland declining 3.4 per cent to €8.65 and AIB dropping 2.8 per cent to €4.03. Ryanair also finished in the red, nudging down 0.2 per cent to €14.54.But food group Kerry advanced 1.6 per cent to €74.32 and packaging giant Smurfit Kappa climbed 1.3 per cent to €26.69. Paddy Power owner Flutter, meanwhile, added 0.8 per cent to close at €150.05, and Cairn Homes rose 0.9 per cent to €1.11.The benchmark FTSE 100 inched 0.
Limiting gains, Barclays fell 6.5 per cent after its third-quarter profit dipped from a year ago on sliding revenues in its investment bank. The lender also hinted at big cost cutting later this year and warned competition for savers’ money was eating into its margins. Puma shares rose 7.6 per cent after the German sportswear brand stood by its full-year profit forecast despite a drop in third-quarter earnings.