(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 30 apr - European share prices opened lower on the final trading day of the week, as hopes for a resolution to the conflict between the US and Iran faded.

Sentiment was dampened by reports that US president Donald Trump is set to receive a briefing on potential military action against Tehran, sparking fears of a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz. These geopolitical concerns have sent oil prices higher, adding pressure to equity markets ahead of the May 1 holiday closures in Europe and China.

Investors are also pivoting toward central bank activity following the Federal Reserve's decision yesterday to hold rates steady at 3.50%-3.75%. Both the Bank of England and the European Central Bank are scheduled to announce their policy decisions today, with the ECB widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged.

Market participants will be parsing the accompanying statements for guidance on how Middle East volatility might influence future inflation and growth trajectories.

Meanwhile, the US tech earnings season remains in focus, with Apple set to report first-quarter results after the closing bell today.

On the data front, German retail sales for March fell a real 2.0% month on month, while import prices in the country rose 3.6% over the same period.

In France, preliminary April CPI grew 2.2% year on year, up from 1.7% in March, even as first quarter GDP remained flat.

French producer prices rose 2.4% month on month and grew 0.3% year on year, according to the statistics office Insee.

Spain showed resilience with its economy expanding 0.6% in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 2.7% increase year on year.

At 0717 GMT, London's FTSE 100 was down 0.02% at 10,210.95 points, while in Frankfurt the DAX was 0.59% lower at 23,802.50 points and in Paris the CAC 40 fell 1.07% to 7,985.78 points. Milan's FTSE MIB dropped 1.15% to 47,245.50 points, while in Madrid the IBEX 35 was 2.97% lower at.

17,140.63 points.

(RADIOCOR) 30-04-26 09:31:33 (0249) 5 NNNN