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France's CAC 40 dipped nearly 0.1% in early trading to 8,171.59,
while Germany's DAX added 0.4% to 22,560.00. Britain's FTSE 100
edged up 0.1% to 8,742.97.
U.S. markets will be closed on Monday for a holiday.
In Asia, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose in early trading
after the Cabinet Office reported that the economy grew at a
better-than-expected annual rate of 2.8% in October-December,
underlined by steady exports and moderate consumption. But the
benchmark quickly fell back and then recovered to be little
changed, finishing up less than 0.1% at 39,174.25.
On a quarter-to-quarter basis, the world’s fourth-largest
economy grew 0.7% for its third straight quarter of growth.
Japan marked its fourth straight year of expansion, eking out
0.1% growth last year in seasonally adjusted real gross domestic
product, which measures the value of a nation’s products and
services.
In other regional markets, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.2%
to 8,537.10. South Korea's Kospi surged 0.8% to 2,610.42. Hong
Kong's Hang Seng reversed course, to slip less than 0.1% to
22,616.23, while the Shanghai Composite added 0.3% to 3,355.83.
Markets around the world are nervously watching what upward
pressure may come from tariffs that Trump has announced
recently. But analysts now think Trump may ultimately avoid
triggering a punishing global trade war.
His most recent tariff announcement, for example, won’t take
full effect for at least several weeks. That leaves time for
Washington and other countries to negotiate.
The Federal Reserve's goal, as well as that of the Bank of
Japan, is to keep inflation at 2%.
In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude added 28 cents to $71.02
a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, rose 34 cents
to $75.08 a barrel.
In currency trading, the U.S. dollar declined to 151.90 Japanese
yen from 152.25 yen. The euro cost $1.0472, down from $1.0495.
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AP Business Writer Stan Choe in New York contributed to this
report.
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