European stocks mixed after data, eyes on U.S.; Dax up 0.22%

European stocks were mixed Friday, after euro zone inflation data came in in line with expectations, while Thursday's better-than-expected U.S. economic reports continued to lead global equities higher.

During European afternoon trade, the EURO STOXX 50 inched 0.01% higher, France’s CAC 40 dipped 0.01%, while Germany’s DAX 30 added 0.22%.

Official data showed that consumer price inflation in the euro zone remained unchanged in May at an annualized rate of 1.4%, in line with expectations.

Core consumer price inflation, which excludes food, energy, alcohol and tobacco rose to an annualized rate of 1.2% last month, from 1% the previous month, in line with expectations.

Elsewhere, the U.S. Department of Labor said on Thursday that the number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. last week fell by 12,000 to 334,000, compared to expectations for a decline of 1,000 to 345,000.

Separately, the Commerce Department said U.S. retail sales rose 0.6% in May, led higher by increased automobile purchases, beating forecasts for a 0.4% increase. 

Core retail sales, which exclude auto sales, were up 0.3%, in line with expectations.

Financial stocks were mixed, as shares in French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale added 0.20% and 1.72%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank slipped 0.13%.

Among peripheral lenders, Spanish banks BBVA and Banco Santander gained 0.60% and 0.74% respectively, while Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo and Unicredit declined 0.30% and 0.51%.

Elsewhere, Fiat retreated 0.89% amid reports the Italian carmaker may sign a deal with nine banks this month to refinance EUR1.95 billion in credit to prepare to buy the remaining stake in Chrysler.

Barry Callebaut was also on the downside, plummeting 1.91%, after the supplier to Nestle sold new shares to generate CHF279 million. The shares were being offered at CHF870 to CHF880.

In London, FTSE 100 slipped 0.18%, erasing earlier gains.

Mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton remained sharply higher, surging 2.10% and 1.59%, while Anglo American jumped 1.20%.

Meanwhile, financial stocks remained mixed. Barclays and Lloyds Banking rose 0.25% and 1.29%, while HSBC Holdings and the Royal Bank of Scotland tumbled 1.01% and 1% respectively.

In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a lower open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.11% loss, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.13% decline, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.08% fall.

Later in the day, the U.S. was to publish data on producer price inflation, industrial production, the capacity utilization rate, the current account and preliminary data from the University of Michigan on consumer sentiment.