European Markets Open Flat as Investors Await Macron’s New Prime Minister Announcement

European stock markets opened broadly unchanged on Friday, with gains in banking and automobile shares offsetting weakness in the healthcare sector, as investors remained focused on political developments in France.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index was steady at 571.2 points by 07:12 GMT, on track for its third consecutive weekly gain.

Automakers led early gains, rising 0.9%, supported by a 1.5% jump in Stellantis after the company reported a 13% year-on-year increase in global vehicle shipments for the third quarter. The banking sector also traded higher, with BNP Paribas and Commerzbank both gaining close to 1%, helping lift the broader eurozone financial segment by 0.5%.

In contrast, healthcare stocks weighed on the index, falling 0.5%, as AstraZeneca and Novo Nordisk slipped around 1% each. The sector’s decline partially erased broader market gains, reflecting some rotation away from defensive names amid improving risk sentiment.

Political focus remained on France, where President Emmanuel Macron is set to announce a new prime minister within days, following the abrupt resignation of Sébastien Lecornu earlier in the week. Macron is expected to meet with leaders of France’s mainstream political parties on Friday to seek consensus before finalizing his choice. Despite ongoing political uncertainty, French blue-chip stocks edged up 0.3%, suggesting that investors are cautiously optimistic about near-term stability.

Elsewhere, Germany’s Energiekontor plunged 13.3% after the renewable energy developer cut its 2025 earnings forecast, citing weaker margins and delayed project completions in its wind and solar divisions.

Overall, sentiment across Europe remains constructive, with investors balancing political risks in France against steady corporate earnings momentum and a resilient macroeconomic backdrop. Markets are also eyeing upcoming economic data and central bank commentary for further clarity on the monetary policy outlook heading into year-end.