European stocks continue losses as virus uncertainties remain

European stock markets fell substantially low earlier on Friday as uncertainties of the progress of a global economic recovery continued to weigh in.

CAC futures in France traded 0.2% lower at 2:10 AM ET (0610) GMT), while FTSE futures in the U.K. lost 0.7%. However, Germany’s DAX futures inched up by 0.1%.

Europe’s economic data on Friday revealed retail sales in the U.K. rising by 0.7% in August, a sharp slowdown from July’s 3.7%.

While an economic rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic seems evident in Europe with easing lockdown restrictions and businesses reopening, France, Spain, and the U.K. are still currently struggling with a resurgence.

The pandemic has infected over 30 million people worldwide with a death toll nearing 1 million, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University.