Germany's DAX 30 joined other European benchmarks in closing lower Friday, with Bayer AG ending a losing month for regional equities by cautioning investors that its profit was under pressure.

U.S. stocks closed modestly higher Friday after trimming gains in the last few minutes of the session. However, steep losses in technology and health-care stocks earlier in the week resulted in poor weekly and mixed monthly performances for all three benchmarks.

Equity markets struggled to find direction in Asia as the second half of the year kicked off, tracking mixed signals from U.S. markets. Market participants were expected to focus more closely on the Chinese bond and currency markets with the launch of a new program allowing global investors to invest in the world's third-largest market for fixed income via Hong Kong.