Investing.com - European stocks were mixed on Wednesday, as markets were jittery ahead of the release of euro zone manufacturing and service sector data, while uncertainty over additional stimulus measures by the European Central Bank also weighed.
During European morning trade, the DJ Euro Stoxx 50 fell 0.14%, France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.23%, while Germany’s DAX inched up 0.03%.
European equities had remained supported after the ECB warned earlier this month that further gains in the euro would trigger additional monetary easing to keep inflation from falling.
On Tuesday, ECB Executive Board member Benoit Coeure said the bank still had room to lower its key interest rates and added that it was "certain" that appreciation of the euro since mid-2012 had contributed to the low level of current inflation in the euro area.
Earlier Wednesday, Markit research group said Germany's preliminary manufacturing purchasing managers' index rose to 54.2 this month, from a reading of 53.7 in March, compared to expectations for a rise to 54.0.
Germany's preliminary services PMI rose to 55.0 in April from 53.0 the previous month, beating expectations for a rise to 53.4.
Financial stocks were broadly lower, as French lenders BNP Paribas (BNPP.PAR) and Societe Generale (SOGN.PAR) slid 0.36% and 0.85%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.XETRA) declined 0.66%.
Among peripheral lenders, Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo (ISP.MILAN) and Unicredit (CRDI.MILAN) shed 0.44% and 0.56% respectively, while Spanish banks BBVA (BBVA.MADRID) and Banco Santander (SAN.MADRID) retreated 0.61% and 0.67%.
Elsewhere, Ericsson (ERICAs.BS) dove 4.70% after the world’s biggest maker of wireless networks reported sales below analysts' estimates.
SCANIA (SCVAs.BS) added to losses, plummetung 4.45% after a shareholder rejected Volkswagen AG’s offer for remaining shares in the Swedish truckmaker.
In London, FTSE 100 edged up 0.17%, led by Associated British Foods (ABF.LSE), up 9.52%, after it said its Primark budget fashion chain will open its first stores in the U.S.
Meanwhile, financial stocks were mixed. Barclays (BARC.LSE) added 0.28% and Lloyds Banking (LLOY.LSE) rose 0.30%, while the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.LSE) saw shares slide 0.30% and HSBC Holdings (HSBA.LSE) fell 0.23%.
Minings stocks were also mixed, as Glencore Xstrata (GLEN.LSE) edged down 0.14% and Antofagasta (ANTO.LSE) sank 5.24%, while Bhp Billition (BHPLF.PK) gained 0.34% and Rio Tinto (RIO.LSE) climbed 0.55%.
On the downside, ARM Holdings (ARM.LSE) plunged 2.34% after the semiconductor designer reported slower growth in first-quarter revenue from royalties on a decelerating market for high-end smartphones.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a steady open. The Dow 30 futures pointed to a 0.05% gain, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.01% uptick, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.01% dip.
Later in the day, the euro zone was to release preliminary data on manufacturing and service sector activity, while the U.S. was to publish reports on new home sales and manufacturing activity.