European markets ended little changed Tuesday, with downward pressure from some mildly disappointing earnings. Germany's DAX 30 index finished up 0.02 percent at 4,843.49 as investors digested data from the Ifo Institute, which said the business climate improved. The closely watched Ifo index rose to 95 in July from 93.3 in June, higher than market expectations of 94, according to AP. France's CAC 40 index shed 0.03 percent to 4,420.78, while the U.K.'s FTSE 100 index declined 0.3 percent at 5,256.20. Infineon Technologies closed up 1.3 percent after volatile trading. The company said its fiscal third-quarter loss widened to a worse-than-expected ¤240 million (US$290 million) from ¤56 million, hurt by lower prices for memory products, pricing pressure and charges. Other chipmakers, including France's STMicroelectronics, were benefiting after second-quarter earnings from U.S. giant Texas Instruments, which jumped 42 percent. STMicro shares closed up 1.2 percent. Oil giant BP PLC dipped 2 percent in London after the company said second-quarter net profit climbed 29 percent on rising energy prices and higher refining and chemicals margins. Swedish telecom Tele2 closed up 10.2 percent in its home market, after it reported a 12 percent rise in second-quarter revenues and higher earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization.
