Investing.com - European stocks were mixed to higher on Tuesday, as investors continued to focus on Spain amid ongoing uncertainty over whether Madrid is about to ask for a full scale sovereign bailout.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 climbed 0.45%, France's CAC 40 dipped 0.01%, while Germany's DAX 30 rose 0.35%.
Sentiment remained under pressure, as investors were waiting to see whether Madrid will seek a bailout and trigger the European Central Bank's bond buying programme.
On Monday, European officials said that while Spain is ready to request a euro zone bailout for its public finances as early as next weekend, Germany has signalled that it should hold off.
In addition, Moody's has yet to announce its review of Spain's rating, which could see Madrid's credit standing cut to junk status.
Financial stocks were mixed, as shares in French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale declined 0.52% and 0.22%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank advanced 1.11% and 1.19% respectively.
Italy saw Unicredit gain 0.90% and Intesa Sanpaolo jump 1.21%, while Spanish banks Banco Santander and BBVA rallied 1.26% and 1.08%.
Meanwhile, Alstom plunged 562% after the company sold stock at EUR26.65 euros apiece, a 5.6% percent discount to yesterday's close, to finance a Russian acquisition that it announced in 2009.
The French engineering company also reiterated its earnings forecast and said free cash flow should be positive in each of the next three years.
In London, FTSE 100 inched up 0.02%, as data showed that construction activity in the U.K. rose less-than-expected in September.
Mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton were on the upside, with shares rising 1.23% and 0.32%, while copper producers Xstrata and Kazakhmys advanced 0.60% and 0.63%.
Oil and gas major Anglo American added to gains, as shares added 0.33%, while rival BP fell 0.34%.
Elsewhere, financial stocks were broadly lower. HSBC Holdings edged down 0.22% and Barclays shed 0.36%, while the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking tumbled 2.02% and 3.06% respectively.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.34% rise, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.45% increase, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.42% gain.
Also Tuesday, data showed that that the number of unemployed people in Spain rose by 79,600 in September, following an increase of 38,200 the previous month.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 climbed 0.45%, France's CAC 40 dipped 0.01%, while Germany's DAX 30 rose 0.35%.
Sentiment remained under pressure, as investors were waiting to see whether Madrid will seek a bailout and trigger the European Central Bank's bond buying programme.
On Monday, European officials said that while Spain is ready to request a euro zone bailout for its public finances as early as next weekend, Germany has signalled that it should hold off.
In addition, Moody's has yet to announce its review of Spain's rating, which could see Madrid's credit standing cut to junk status.
Financial stocks were mixed, as shares in French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale declined 0.52% and 0.22%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank advanced 1.11% and 1.19% respectively.
Italy saw Unicredit gain 0.90% and Intesa Sanpaolo jump 1.21%, while Spanish banks Banco Santander and BBVA rallied 1.26% and 1.08%.
Meanwhile, Alstom plunged 562% after the company sold stock at EUR26.65 euros apiece, a 5.6% percent discount to yesterday's close, to finance a Russian acquisition that it announced in 2009.
The French engineering company also reiterated its earnings forecast and said free cash flow should be positive in each of the next three years.
In London, FTSE 100 inched up 0.02%, as data showed that construction activity in the U.K. rose less-than-expected in September.
Mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton were on the upside, with shares rising 1.23% and 0.32%, while copper producers Xstrata and Kazakhmys advanced 0.60% and 0.63%.
Oil and gas major Anglo American added to gains, as shares added 0.33%, while rival BP fell 0.34%.
Elsewhere, financial stocks were broadly lower. HSBC Holdings edged down 0.22% and Barclays shed 0.36%, while the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking tumbled 2.02% and 3.06% respectively.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.34% rise, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.45% increase, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.42% gain.
Also Tuesday, data showed that that the number of unemployed people in Spain rose by 79,600 in September, following an increase of 38,200 the previous month.