European Markets Mixed as Inflation Rises and Valneva Surges

European stock markets delivered mixed results on Friday as investors weighed rising regional inflation against specific corporate gains. In Germany, wholesale price inflation accelerated to 5.3 percent in July from 4.9 percent in June, a trend driven by higher energy costs. France also saw its annual inflation rate climb to 2.1 percent in July, up from 1.8 percent in June.

Market reactions varied by country. The German DAX rose approximately 0.5 percent, while the French CAC 40 and the U.K. FTSE 100 both declined. Geopolitical tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz further influenced investor sentiment during the session.

Valneva SE saw its shares surge 19 percent after the European Medicines Agency validated the marketing application for the company's Lyme disease vaccine candidate. In the technology sector, software stocks gained following reports that the private equity firm Silver Lake is in talks to acquire Workday.