European stocks were little changed

European stocks were little changed as investors weighed economic data and the growing conflict in Ukraine for their impact on company earnings. U.S. index futures were also little changed, while Asian shares rose.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slipped less than 0.1 percent to 331.27 at 11:06 a.m. in London. The equity benchmark has dropped 2.1 percent from a six-year high on Feb. 25 as tensions escalated between Russia and the U.S. over the future of Ukraine. Futures on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index lost less than 0.1 percent today, while the MSCI Asia Pacific Index added 0.3 percent.

Data today showed German exports jumped 2.2 percent in January, more than the 1.5 percent increase projected by economists in a Bloomberg survey. That was the biggest month-on-month growth since May 2012. Imports jumped 4.1 percent in the period, also exceeding estimates.

African Barrick Gold tumbled 15 percent to 260.8 pence, its biggest retreat since Jan. 8, 2013. Toronto-based Barrick Gold Corp., which held 74 percent of African Barrick, sold 41 million shares for 275 pence each.

Geberit AG gained 2.5 percent to 285.40 francs. The maker of bathroom fittings and plumbing products said Christian Buhl will take over as CEO from Albert M. Baehny at the beginning of 2015. Baehny will remain chairman. The company also said net income increased to 435.8 million francs in 2013, or 19 percent of sales. Profitability on that measure was the highest since the company first sold shares to the public in 1999, according to a statement.

Close Brothers Group Plc rose 2.7 percent to 1,479 pence. The British financial-services company founded in 1878 increased its interim dividend to 16.5 pence, more that the 16 pence forecast calculated by Bloomberg.

FTSE 100 6,668.87 -20.58 -0.31%

CAC 40 4,353.47 -17.37 -0.40%

DAX 9,286.28 +20.78 +0.22%