Investing.com - European stocks were lower on Thursday, following the release of a mixed manufacturing and service sector activity reports from the euro zone, amid ongoing concerns over a global economic slowdown.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 declined 0.53%, France’s CAC 40 slumped 0.51%, while Germany’s DAX 30 dropped 0.30%.
Preliminary data showed that the euro zone’s manufacturing purchasing manufacturers' index rose more-than-expected in September to 46.0, from 45.1 the previous month, while the service sector PMI fell unexpectedly to 46.0, from 47.2.
A separate report showed earlier that manufacturing activity in Germany contracted at the slowest rate in six months in September, while service sector activity grew modestly.
The data came after a report showing that China’s HSBC Flash Purchasing Managers Index rose slightly to 47.8 in September from a final reading of 47.6 in August, remaining in contraction territory for the 11th consecutive month and adding to fears over a deeper-than-expected slowdown in the world's second largest economy.
Financial stocks were broadly lower, as shares in German lenders Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank dropped 0.33% and 1.61%, while France's Societe Generale and BNP Paribas declined 0.95% and 0.96% respectively.
Peripheral lenders added to losses, with shares in Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo and Unicredit retreating 0.63% and 0.90%, while Spanish banks Banco Santander and BBVA lost 0.49% and 0.51%.
Commodity-linked stocks were also hit, as French oil group Total plummeted 1.81% and Spain's Repsol dropped 1.31%.
In London, commodity-heavy FTSE 100 retreated 0.64%, weighed by losses in mining stocks, while data showed that retail sales in the U.K. fell less-than-expected in August.
Mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton plunged 2.63% and 2.75%, while rival group Vedanta Resources dove 3.43%.
Oil giant Anglo American was also on the downside, with shares plummeting 3.27%, while BP lost 0.39%.
Elsewhere, U.K. lenders tracked their European counterparts lower, as shares in HSBC Holdings fell 0.31% and the Royal Bank of Scotland tumbled 1.14%, while Lloyds Banking and Barclays declined 1.29% and 1.64%.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a lower open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.27% fall, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.32% decline, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.29% loss.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release its weekly government report on initial jobless claims, as well as an index of manufacturing activity in Philadelphia.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 declined 0.53%, France’s CAC 40 slumped 0.51%, while Germany’s DAX 30 dropped 0.30%.
Preliminary data showed that the euro zone’s manufacturing purchasing manufacturers' index rose more-than-expected in September to 46.0, from 45.1 the previous month, while the service sector PMI fell unexpectedly to 46.0, from 47.2.
A separate report showed earlier that manufacturing activity in Germany contracted at the slowest rate in six months in September, while service sector activity grew modestly.
The data came after a report showing that China’s HSBC Flash Purchasing Managers Index rose slightly to 47.8 in September from a final reading of 47.6 in August, remaining in contraction territory for the 11th consecutive month and adding to fears over a deeper-than-expected slowdown in the world's second largest economy.
Financial stocks were broadly lower, as shares in German lenders Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank dropped 0.33% and 1.61%, while France's Societe Generale and BNP Paribas declined 0.95% and 0.96% respectively.
Peripheral lenders added to losses, with shares in Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo and Unicredit retreating 0.63% and 0.90%, while Spanish banks Banco Santander and BBVA lost 0.49% and 0.51%.
Commodity-linked stocks were also hit, as French oil group Total plummeted 1.81% and Spain's Repsol dropped 1.31%.
In London, commodity-heavy FTSE 100 retreated 0.64%, weighed by losses in mining stocks, while data showed that retail sales in the U.K. fell less-than-expected in August.
Mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton plunged 2.63% and 2.75%, while rival group Vedanta Resources dove 3.43%.
Oil giant Anglo American was also on the downside, with shares plummeting 3.27%, while BP lost 0.39%.
Elsewhere, U.K. lenders tracked their European counterparts lower, as shares in HSBC Holdings fell 0.31% and the Royal Bank of Scotland tumbled 1.14%, while Lloyds Banking and Barclays declined 1.29% and 1.64%.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a lower open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.27% fall, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.32% decline, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.29% loss.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release its weekly government report on initial jobless claims, as well as an index of manufacturing activity in Philadelphia.