[European Stocks] Eurozone August Retail Sales Rise 3.7% Year-on-Year

Charles Michel, President of the European Union (EU) Summit, held a press conference after the first day of the EU special summit meeting held in Brussels, Belgium, on the 2nd (local time).

The Eurozone's retail sales index for last August rose by 3.7% year-on-year, the European Union (EU) statistical agency Eurostat announced on the 5th (local time).

Compared to the previous month, it increased by 4.4%, surpassing the forecast of 2.5%.

Despite uncertainties related to U.S. President Donald Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis, European stock markets showed slight gains in early trading.

As of 4:53 PM that day, the Euro Stoxx 50 index rose 11.37 points (0.37%) from the previous close to 3,2102.75.

The UK's FTSE 100 index traded up 26.68 points (0.45%) at 5928.80. France's CAC 40 index increased by 18.30 points (0.38%) to 4,833.18, and Germany's DAX 30 index rose 42.09 points (0.33%) to 12,731.13.

Investor anxiety had increased late last week following news that U.S. President Donald Trump was hospitalized due to COVID-19, but concerns eased somewhat after reports of his early discharge.

White House medical staff, including Dr. Sean Conley, held a press conference at Walter Reed Military Hospital on the 4th local time, stating that President Trump's condition was stable and that he could be discharged as early as the 5th.

This news led to a broad rise in Asian stock markets, and U.S. stock index futures also showed strength. Oil prices, based on West Texas Intermediate (WTI), rose nearly 2%, highlighting gains in oil-related stocks.

Domestic financial markets also remained stable, closing the first trading day after the holiday break. With investor sentiment recovering, the KOSPI rose more than 1%, the Korean won fell over 6 won against the U.S. dollar, and bond yields increased.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.