Key facts
- The pan-European STOXX 600 index dipped 0.2% to 641.57 points on Friday.
- Telecommunication shares fell 1.8%, with Deutsche Telekom down 3.1% and Airtel Africa down 4.8%.
- Energy shares shed 0.5% as oil prices fell for a third consecutive day.
- Technology shares gained 0.9%, led by chip-related companies Aixtron and Infineon Technologies.
- Nestle dipped 1.2% after Russia seized control of its local assets.
- The STOXX 600 was set for its first weekly gain in three weeks.
European equities edged lower on Friday, with the pan-European STOXX 600 index dipping 0.2% to 641.57 points by 0717 GMT. The decline was led by telecommunication stocks, which fell 1.8%, and energy shares, which shed 0.5% as oil prices continued to drop for a third day. Nestle shares fell 1.2% after Russia seized control of the Swiss food major's local assets. However, gains in technology shares, up 0.9%, helped to offset some of the losses. Chip-related companies Aixtron and Infineon Technologies were among the top performers. The STOXX 600 was on track for its first weekly gain in three weeks, following a busy week of interest rate decisions from global central banks, including the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England.