Investing.com - European stocks opened lower on Monday, as investors returned their focus to discussions on the Greek bailout deal and awaited upcoming comments by European Central Bank President Mario Draghi.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 declined 0.42%, France’s CAC 40 dropped 0.46%, while Germany’s DAX 30 retreated 0.91%.
European equities had found some support on Friday after Greek authorities said they were moving towards meeting the requirements of international creditors on a more detailed reform plan in order to secure the additional bailout funds required to prevent the country's bankruptcy.
Later Monday, ECB President Mario Draghi was to appear before a European Parliament committee, with the situation in Greece likely to be high on the agenda.
Financial stocks were mixed, as BNP Paribas (PARIS:BNPP) slid 0.43% and Societe Generale (PARIS:SOGN) edged up 0.14% in France, while Commerzbank (XETRA:CBKG) fell 0.22% and Deutsche Bank (XETRA:DBKGn) rallied 1.26% in Germany.
Among peripheral lenders, Italy's Unicredit (MILAN:CRDI) and Intesa Sanpaolo (MILAN:ISP) dropped 0.40% and 0.42% respectively, while Spanish banks BBVA (MADRID:BBVA) and Banco Santander (MADRID:SAN) declined 0.61% and 0.63%.
Elsewhere, Man SE (XETRA:MANG) slid 0.62% following news the company appointed former Daimler manager Joachim Drees to lead its truck and bus manufacturing unit.
In London, FTSE 100 shed 0.25%, ahead of a report on U.K. industrial order expectations.
Financial stocks were mixed, as Lloyds Banking (LONDON:LLOY) edged up 0.13% and Barclays (LONDON:BARC) gained 0.42%, while HSBC Holdings (LONDON:HSBA) slid 0.32% and the Royal Bank of Scotland (LONDON:RBS) lost 0.39%.
In the mining sector, stocks were broadly lower. Shares in Bhp Billiton (LONDON:BLT) fell 0.26% and Glencore Xstrata (LONDON:GLEN) shed 0.30%, while Rio Tinto (LONDON:RIO) slid 0.36% and Fresnillo (LONDON:FRES) dropped 0.85%.
Meanwhile, Glaxosmithkline (LONDON:GSK) saw shares decline 0.76% after the drugmaker said it wants to wrap up negotiations with the U.K. Department of Health over the cost of its meningitis B vaccine so the medicine can be distributed throughout Britain.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a lower open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.15% loss, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.11% fall, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.08% slip.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release a report on existing home sales.