(For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock
markets, click LIVE/ or type LIVE/ in a news window)
April 21 (Reuters) - European shares were subdued on
Friday, but on track for a fifth week of gains, as investors
eyed more economic data from the euro zone, along with more
corporate earnings.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index edged 0.1% higher,
hovering around its 14-month highs, with automobile shares rising 1.0% and recovering some losses from the previous
session.
Miners were the biggest losers on the index,
dropping 1.8%.
Britain's blue-chip index was flat after British
retail sales fell by a greater-than-expected 0.9% in March from
February.
Luxury eyewear maker EssilorLuxottica SA jumped
5.2% after it reported a rise in first-quarter revenues on a
rebound in China-led growth.
Mercedes-Benz Group AG climbed 2.1% as it posted
first-quarter group adjusted return on sales of 14.8%, above
market expectations, boosted by higher prices and strong demand.
Meanwhile, business software maker SAP SE lost
1.6% in early trade after it slightly lowered its outlook due to
the divestment of its Qualtrics unit while reporting
first-quarter revenue growth that beat expectations.
In economic data, S&P Global's Purchasing Managers' Index
for manufacturing and services for April will be on investors'
radar to assess the economic strength of the euro zone, along
with speeches by ECB policymakers.
(Reporting by Shubham Batra in Bengaluru; Editing by Varun H
K)
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