European Stocks Cautious

European stocks were slightly lower on Friday, with both the STOXX 50 and the STOXX 600 falling 0.1%, pausing after gains in the previous two sessions, as traders ended a week packed with monetary policy decisions on a cautious note. The Bank of Japan raised interest rates to a 31-year high, as expected. However, two policymakers dissented and voted to keep rates unchanged, raising concerns among investors about whether the central bank will be able to sustain its tightening cycle. Meanwhile, oil prices extended their decline. Energy, insurance and auto shares were in the red, while technology stocks outperformed. Shell fell 1.2%, Nestle declined 1%, and Allianz lost 1.3%. Orange tumbled nearly 4%, making it the worst performer on the STOXX 600. On the other hand, ASML Holding gained 2.1% and STMicroelectronics rose 2.2%, ranking among the index's top performers.