Euro shares mixed on negative U.S. numbers; DAX up 0.44%

 Investing.com -  European shares closed mixed Thursday as economically positive bond auction results in Spain and Italy were offset by negative U.S. numbers.  

After the close of European trade, the EURO STOXX  gained 0.27%, France's CAC 40 dropped 0.15%, while Germany's DAX 30 closed up 0.44%. Meanwhile, in the U.K. the FTSE 100 fell 0.15%.  

In the U.S., a report indicated that more Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week than forecasted adding to speculation that the U.S. recovery may be slowing.  

U.S. retail sales in December also failed to meet forecasts increasing the bearish sentiment in the world's largest economy.  

In bullish news, Spain auctioned euro9.98 billion of bonds, twice the targeted amount and Italy met its target sending borrowing costs plunging.  

Interest rates were unchanged in the euro zone and the U.K, with the European Central Bank holding steady at 1% and the Bank of England maintaining a 0.5% rate meeting analyst's estimates.  

Retailers were hit with selling as Tesco gave back 16% after stating holiday sales declined and profit will be at the low end of the projected range.  

Super market, Food Lion, owner Delhaize dropped 11% upon stating it expects a 2.4% cut in revenue and plans to cut 5000 jobs.  

Troubled Italian bank, Unicredit soared 13% on the positive Italian bond auction and an upgrade to "buy" at Citigroup.  

RBS, Britains largest government owned lender, climbed 5% after it announced eliminating its unprofitable cash equities and merger advisory operations  

U.S. stocks were mixed in midday trading with the Dow Jones Industrial Average lower by 0.23%, the S&P 500 down 0.18% and the Nasdaq 100 bucking the trend by adding 0.14%.  

Investors are awaiting U.S. import prices and the University of Michigan's inflation expectation numbers.