Investing.com - European stocks declined on Tuesday, after the release of mixed data from Germany and France and amid ongoing concerns over possible political instability in Greece, while investors eyed additional reports from the euro zone.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 declined 0.78%, France’s CAC 40 slid 0.69%, while Germany’s DAX 30 retreated 0.70%.
Markit research group said Germany's manufacturing purchasing managers' index rose to 51.2 this month from 49.5 in November, exceeding expectations for a rise to 50.4.
Germany's services PMI slipped to 51.4 in December from 52.1 in November, compared to expectations for a rise to 52.6.
Markit also said that France's manufacturing PMI ticked down to 47.9 this month from 48.4 in November, compared to expectations for a rise to 48.6.
The French services PMI rose to 49.8 in December from a reading of 47.9 the previous month, beating expectations for a rise to 48.3.
Meanwhile, investors continued to focus on developments in Greece after a surprise decision by the government to bring forward a parliamentary vote for president to this week.
Financial stocks were broadly lower, as French lenders BNP Paribas (PARIS:BNPP) and Societe Generale (PARIS:SOGN) slipped 0.10% and 0.28%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank (XETRA:DBKGn) and Commerzbank (XETRA:CBKG) declined 0.62% and 1.36%.
Among peripheral lenders, Italy's Unicredit and Intesa Sanpaolo fell 0.15% and 0.94%, while Spanish bank BBVA edged down 0.12%.
Elsewhere, Spanish oil and gas giant Repsol plummeted 2.66% after it agreed to buy Canada's Talisman Energy Inc. (TO:TLM) for $8.3 billion.
On the upside, France's Lafarge gained 0.75% and Switzerland's Holcim (SIX:HOLN) jumped 1.04% after the two companies' plan to create the world’s biggest cement maker was approved by the European Union.
In London, commodity-heavy FTSE 100 slid 0.30%, weighed by losses in the mining sector.
Shares in Glencore Xstrata (LONDON:GLEN) dropped 0.54% and Bhp Billiton lost 1.14%, while rivals Fresnillo (LONDON:FRES) and Randgold Resources plunged 1.83% and 3.51% respectively.
Vodafone Group (LONDON:VOD) was also on the downside, sliding 0.62% following reports the telecom company plans to ask U.K. regulators to set conditions for BT Group's proposed acquisition of EE for almost $20 billion to ensure the former phone monopoly won’t discriminate against rivals.
In the financial sector, stocks were mostly higher. The Royal Bank of Scotland (LONDON:RBS) saw shares edge up 0.18% and Lloyds Banking (LONDON:LLOY) added 0.20%, while Barclays gained 0.81%. HSBC Holdings (LONDON:HSBA) underperformed however, easing 0.08%.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a mixed open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.02% uptick, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.10% rise, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.11% loss.
Later in the day, the euro zone was to publish preliminary data on private sector activity, while the ZEW Institute was to release its closely watched report on German economic sentiment.
The U.S. was to publish reports on building permits and housing starts.