Investing.com – European stocks were down on Monday, amid increased merger and acquisition activity, while U.S. futures indices pointed to a lower open on Wall Street.
During European afternoon trade, the EURO STOXX 50 declined 0.37%; France’s CAC 40 fell 0.54%, while Germany's DAX shed 0.40%.
Earlier in the day, official data showed that economic confidence in the euro zone rose to its highest level in 2 years, while consumer confidence improved unexpectedly in August.
In France, shares of pharmaceutical group, Sanofi-Aventis gained 1.35%, after the drug maker publicly disclosed its bid of USD 18.5 billion to buy U.S. biotechnology company, Genzyme Corp., whose stocks gained 1.17% following the news.
Elsewhere, stocks in Europe’s biggest maker of airplane seats, Zodiac Aerospace jumped 13.01% after French-based airplane engine maker, Safran SA announced it planned to make a renewed bid for the airplane seat specialist, after Zodiac rebuffed a first approach from Safran in July.
In London, the FTSE 100 was closed due to a bank holiday in the U.K. on Monday.
Meanwhile, crude oil prices declined 0.95% to hit USD 74.81 a barrel.
The outlook for U.S. equity markets was downbeat: Dow Jones Industrial Average futures indicated a loss of 0.20%, S&P 500 futures pointed to a decrease of 0.09% and Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a drop of 0.15%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was expected to release key data on personal consumption expenditures, including data on personal income and personal spending.
During European afternoon trade, the EURO STOXX 50 declined 0.37%; France’s CAC 40 fell 0.54%, while Germany's DAX shed 0.40%.
Earlier in the day, official data showed that economic confidence in the euro zone rose to its highest level in 2 years, while consumer confidence improved unexpectedly in August.
In France, shares of pharmaceutical group, Sanofi-Aventis gained 1.35%, after the drug maker publicly disclosed its bid of USD 18.5 billion to buy U.S. biotechnology company, Genzyme Corp., whose stocks gained 1.17% following the news.
Elsewhere, stocks in Europe’s biggest maker of airplane seats, Zodiac Aerospace jumped 13.01% after French-based airplane engine maker, Safran SA announced it planned to make a renewed bid for the airplane seat specialist, after Zodiac rebuffed a first approach from Safran in July.
In London, the FTSE 100 was closed due to a bank holiday in the U.K. on Monday.
Meanwhile, crude oil prices declined 0.95% to hit USD 74.81 a barrel.
The outlook for U.S. equity markets was downbeat: Dow Jones Industrial Average futures indicated a loss of 0.20%, S&P 500 futures pointed to a decrease of 0.09% and Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a drop of 0.15%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was expected to release key data on personal consumption expenditures, including data on personal income and personal spending.