(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 7 mag - European shares closed lower as persistent uncertainty regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz weighed on sentiment while investors also monitored a fresh batch of corporate earnings.

Additionally, Bank of France governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau stated that the European Central Bank cannot commit to a rate hike at its June meeting, noting that decisions will instead be driven by evidence of changes in the economy.

On the data front, the seasonally adjusted retail trade volume in the eurozone decreased by 0.1% in March compared with the previous month, according to figures from European Union statistical office Eurostat. Meanwhile, the UK's construction sector saw a sharp fall in activity in April, with its purchasing managers index dropping to 39.7 from 45.6 in March.

The London FTSE 100 closed down 1.55% at 10,276.95 points, the Frankfurt DAX fell 1.14% at 24,666.02 points, the Paris CAC 40 dropped 1.17% at 8,202.08 points, while in Milan the FTSE MIB lost 0.82% at 49,291.01 points, and in Madrid the.

IBEX 35 closed 0.32% lower at 18,046.80 points.

(RADIOCOR) 07-05-26 18:02:23 (0717) 5 NNNN