European stock markets mid session: stocks traded mixed as shares of miners declined on the weak Chinese economic data

Stock indices traded mixed as shares of miners declined on the weak Chinese economic data. China's trade surplus fell to $43.03 billion in July from $46.54 billion in June, missing expectations for a rise to a surplus of $53.25 billion. Exports fell at an annual rate of 0.9% in July, while Imports slid at an annual rate of 14.6%, the ninth consecutive decline.

The Chinese consumer price index (CPI) rose at annual rate of 1.6% in July, exceeding expectations for a 1.5% increase, after a 1.4% gain in May.

The Chinese producer price index (PPI) dropped 5.4% in July, missing forecasts of a 5.0% fall, after a 4.8% decline in June. It was the biggest decline since October 2009.

Meanwhile, Sentix investor confidence index for the Eurozone fell to 18.4 in August from 18.5 in July.

A reading above 0.0 indicates optimism, below indicates pessimism.

"Despite the global headwinds, the euro zone's economy appears to be in relatively good form. The euro zone has swallowed the turmoil surrounding Greece and a further collapse in economic momentum there relatively well," Manfred Huebner from Sentix said.

The Bank of France released its gross domestic product (GDP) forecasts for France on Monday. French economy is expected to expand at 0.3% in the third quarter.

The second quarter's forecast was revised down to a 0.2% rise from a 0.3% gain.

Current figures:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,666.2 -52.29 -0.78 %

DAX 11,514.26 +23.43 +0.20 %

CAC 40 5,162.03 +7.28 +0.14 %