European stock markets mid-session: indices mixed – German factory orders and Eurozone Retail Sales weigh

European stocks are trading mixed today with the FTSE100 being the only index out of the three in positive territory. German factory orders and Eurozone Retail Sales weigh on stocks.

Factory Orders in Germany, Eurozone's biggest economy, declined in February by -0.9%, below the estimated +1.5%. The January reading was -3.9%. Year on year Factory orders declined -1.3% compared to -0.1%. Orders fell for a second month, contradicting other positive reports on the German economy and its recovery.

The French Trade Balance rose unexpectedly last month with a reading of -3.44 billion euros, compared to forecasts of -3.8 billion and a previous reading of -3.7 billion.

Retail Sales in the Eurozone declined seasonally adjusted in February by -0.2%, more than the expected -0.1%. The data for January was revised from +1.1% down to +0.9%. Year on year Retail Sales for February came in at +3.0%. Last February's reading was revised down from +3.7% to +3.2%.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading +0.54% quoted at 6,999.03 points. Germany's DAX 30 is trading at 12,066.65 points -0.47% close to intraday-lows. France's CAC 40 is currently trading at 5,146.42 points, -0.09%.