Listless start, scarred software names get a boost
WDAY•European stocks are little changed
Major European stock indexes are trading close to unchanged on the day and are mixed for the week as easing Fed hike expectations are offset by worries about disruptions to energy supplies as talks to end the Middle East war have floundered.
The pan-continental STOXX 600 is little changed on the day and down about 0.1% for the week, but remains about 0.5% below its record peak.
Britain's FTSE 100 is off 0.1%, while France's CAC 40 is flat.
Germany's DAX outperforms, helped by a 4% jump in software company SAP.
Software stocks gain on possible Workday buyout
The once largest company in Europe is rallying alongside other software and data stocks after Reuters reported that Silver Lake was in talks to acquire Workday.
The news has investors scrambling for some of those unloved stocks that had been discarded on worries that AI would disrupt their business models, such as Nemetschek, TeamViewer, Wolters Kluwer, Experian, Sage Group and Dassault Systemes, which are all up by at least 4%.
