12:05 PM EDT, 06/13/2025 (MT Newswires) -- The European stock markets closed lower in Friday trading as the Stoxx Europe 600 dropped 0.97%, Germany's DAX was down 1.1%, the FTSE 100 decreased 0.36%, France's CAC 40 fell 1.04% and the Swiss Market Index declined 1.6%.

European Union employment rate for people between 20 and 64 slightly increased to 76.1% in Q1, up from 76% in the previous quarter, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. Labor market slack also saw a marginal rise of 0.1 percentage points, reaching 10.9% of the extended labor force in the same period.

The euro area's trade surplus in goods with the rest of the world significantly narrowed to 9.9 billion euros ($11.4 billion) in April 2025, a notable drop from 37.3 billion euros in March, Eurostat said. This decline was primarily driven by a sharp reduction in a surplus of the chemicals sector.

Great Britain saw overseas visitors making 10.4 million trips and spending an estimated 10.2 billion pounds ($13.8 billion) in Q3 2024, according to the Office of National Statistics. However, outbound travel by Great Britain residents during the same period was higher, with 29 million visits abroad and expenditures reaching an estimated 28.4 billion pounds.

In Q4 2024, inbound visits to Great Britain dipped to 9.3 million with spending of 7.4 billion pounds, and outbound trips also decreased to 20.3 million, with residents spending 17.3 billion pounds.

Wholesale selling prices in Germany rose by 0.4% in May compared to the previous year, a deceleration from the 0.8% increase seen in April, according to the Federal Statistical Office. The gains were driven by a 4.3% jump in food beverages and tobacco prices, especially coffee, tea, cocoa, and spices.

Producer prices for agricultural products in Germany rose by 3.2% in April compared to the previous year, driven by a significant 9.8% increase in prices for animals and animal products, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Plant product prices declined 6.3% year-on-year, primarily due to a substantial drop in table potato prices.

Soitec shares fell 5.6% in Paris after Jefferies downgraded its rating to hold from buy and cut its price target to 50 euros from 58 euros due to ongoing uncertainty in cyclical recovery and a subdued structural growth profile.

Equinor shares were up 4.7% on the Oslo exchange after the Norwegian Ministry of Energy offered a new exploration license related to CO2 storage in the North Sea to Equinor Low Carbon Solution. The license includes a binding work program with built-in milestones to ensure swift progress or the relinquishment of acreage if the storage project is not completed.