Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

European equities retreat as miners, oils slide

Published 05/12/2011, 12:38 PM
Updated 05/12/2011, 12:40 PM

* FTSEurofirst 300 index finishes 0.7 percent lower

* Mining, energy shares feature among top losers

* Charts signal further declines in the near term

By Atul Prakash

LONDON, May 12 (Reuters) - European share prices mostly ended lower on Thursday and analysts said the market could be prone to further declines as a sell-off in commodities on demand concerns prompted investors to shun mining and energy shares.

A rise in the Euro STOXX 50 volatility index <.V2TX>, one of Europe's main barometers of market sentiment, suggested a fall in investors' appetite for risk, while charts indicated a key stockmarket index might come under more pressure.

The FTSEurofirst 300 <.FTEU3> index of top European shares closed 0.7 percent lower at 1,145.07 points after falling to a low of 1,137.26. The index, which advanced in the previous two sessions, is 2.1 percent higher this year.

Miners bore the brunt of the sell-off, with the STOXX Europe 600 Basic Materials index <.SXPP> down 2 percent, as copper hit a five-month low on concerns of slower economic growth and demand from China and the United States.

China lifted bank reserve requirements to contain inflation despite signs of the economy slowing down, while the U.S. economy struggled to gain momentum early in the second quarter, with retail sales posting their smallest rise in nine months in April. [ID:nL3E7GC2W4] [ID:nL3E7GC2W4]

"Equities and commodities are coming down in a correlated way and the markets will remain nervous and volatile for some time to come," said Philippe Gijsels, head of research at BNP Paribas Fortis Global Markets in Brussels.

"It is still too early to tell whether this will be a much welcomed pause or the start of something more severe, but the risks are clearly high."

Energy shares were also hit hard, with the sector index <.SXEP> falling 1.7 percent following a sharp drop in oil prices . BG Group declined 1.9 percent.

Growing concerns over the pace of economic recovery on the back of soft data from the U.S and China have prompted investors to reduce their exposure to market risk, with worries also over the outlook for inflation and monetary tightening.

"The commodity rout of the past two weeks has become a growth scare, hence the sell-off in stocks," said Frederic Buzare, global head of equity management at Dexia AM, which manages a total of 86.3 billion euros ($122 billion).

"In doubt, the market will price in earnings forecast downgrades, overshadowing the positive impact of lower input costs for companies," he told Reuters.

BEARISH OUTLOOK

Concerns about the euro zone debt crisis remained in the background and analysts said the issue could resurface again. The International Monetary Fund warned the debt crisis could still spread to core euro zone countries and the emerging economies of eastern Europe.

The Euro STOXX 50 <.STOXX50E>, the euro zone's blue chip index, fell 0.9 percent to 2,917.05 points. A dark cloud cover formed on its weekly candlestick chart last week suggested a high risk of a further correction in the next few weeks.

"The index fell below its 50-day moving average and formed a negative crossover in the slow stochastic oscillator and also a bearish divergence with the price action. These signals increase the possibility of a near-term bear market," said Dmytro Bondar, technical analyst at RBS.

However, the index remained supported by a long-term trend line being in effect since June 2010, Bondar said, adding the index could find support at around 2,900, which is also closer to the 50-percent Fibonacci retracement from the Feb-Mar slide.

Telecom shares <.SXKP> fell 0.9 percent in high volumes.

However, softer crude prices helped airlines in anticipation that fuel costs will fall. Air France-KLM rose 0.9 percent, while Lufthansa gained 2.4 percent. (Additional reporting by Blaise Robinson in Paris; Editing by Greg Mahlich)

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.