European shares slipped on Friday on concerns over rising inflation and surging coronavirus infections, while investors were uncertain over how weak US payrolls data would influence the Federal Reserve's plans for tightening policy.
The pan-European STOXX 600 closed 0.4 per cent lower, and lost 0.3 per cent this week.
The European travel and leisure sector sank 1.6 per cent and was among the worst performers for the day as countries grapple with an Omicron-led rise in Covid-19 cases.
Data also showed euro zone inflation rose to a record high last month, likely pointing towards more pressure on the European Central Bank to raise interest rates this year.
The STOXX 600 has fallen 1.6 per cent since Wednesday as expectations of higher interest rates battered heavyweight technology stocks. The sector was the worst performer this week, losing around 4.5 per cent.
Inflation the main concern
Hawkish signals from the Fed have also dented equity markets. But while weak US payrolls data on Friday somewhat undermined the Fed's tilt, analysts said rising wages could feed into inflation and push the central bank into tightening policy.
"Inflation is the main concern for the Fed, and they are going to go ahead with rate hikes and potentially balance sheet run-off in order to remove monetary accommodation," said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer for Independent Advisor Alliance.
"The report today is unlikely to do anything to change the Fed’s mind."
The prospect of higher interest rates boosted European bank stocks, making them the best performers this week with a 6.7 per cent jump.
Gains in some chipmakers helped limit some losses in the technology sector. Italy's STMicroelectronics rose more than 3 per cent after posting quarterly revenue above its own estimates.
Gains
German chipmaker Infineon Technologies gained 1.7 per cent, taking cues from South Korea's Samsung Electronics that posted upbeat fourth-quarter results.
Deutsche Bank climbed 1.8 per cent to a more than six-month high. The German lender's finance chief told Handelsblatt in an interview that the firm is confident it will reach a key profitability target this year.
Dutch insurer Aegon rose more than 4 per cent to the top of the STOXX 600, after it announced a €50 million share buyback.
Meanwhile, Airbus dropped 0.8 per cent after reports that Qatar Airways is seeking more than $600 million in compensation from the planemaker over surface flaws on A350 jetliners. Airbus has said that while it acknowledges technical problems, there is no safety issue.
Polish parcel locker firm InPost plummeted 14 per cent to the bottom of the STOXX 600 after posting weaker-than-expected quarterly parcel volume growth in the country.
