European stocks close: stocks dropped due to the mixed earnings results from companies across Europe and the escalation of tensions in Ukraine

European stocks dropped due to the mixed earnings results from companies across Europe and the escalation of tensions in Ukraine. Markets found support in the better-than-expected economic data in the Eurozone, but tensions in Ukraine are still weighing on sentiment.

Eurozone’s month-on-month retail sales increased to 0.3% in March from 0.1% in February. February’s figure was revised down to 0.1% from 0.4%. Analysts forecasted a rise of 0.2%.

The number of unemployed people in Spain declined by 111,600 in April from a 16,600 decrease in March. Analysts expected a fall of 49,100.

Balfour Beatty Plc shares declined 20%. The CEO Andrew McNaughton quit his job after 13 months.

PostNL shares climbed 10% after the announcing better-than-expected first quarter earnings.

Barclays decreased 5.2% after the release of the weaker-than-expected first quarter earnings.

Indexes on the close:

Name                                   Price                                    Change                 Change %

FTSE 100                              6,798.56                             -23.86                     -0.35%

DAX                                      9,467.53                              -61.97                     -0.65%

CAC 40                                 4,428.07                              -34.62                     -0.78%