European stocks log worst quarter in a year with a drop of 2.9%

European stocks were higher Friday, but optimism in recent sessions rounded off a weak month and the worst quarter for a year.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 provisionally closed up 0.5% on the prior session, with most sectors finishing in positive territory as tech and household goods led the pack.

The index ended Wednesday at a six-month low and has declined 2.1% this month, according to LSEG data, following a 2.8% fall in August. Despite making gains in July, that still takes the benchmark Stoxx to a 2.9% loss for the quarter, its worst performance for a year.

Investors on Friday analyzed euro zone inflation, which fell to its lowest level since October 2021. It tumbled to 4.3% for the month of September, according to flash data.

The announcement is in line with recent country-specific data, with preliminary inflation figures from Germany showing inflation slowed more than expected Thursday. Harmonized data for Europe’s biggest economy showed a 4.3% increase in consumer prices since September 2022 — the lowest level since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Asia-Pacific markets largely climbed in the final trading day of the week, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index leading gains in the region and rising over 2%.

U.S. stocks rose early Friday as investors prepared to end a difficult September.