Investing.com - European stocks were mixed to lower on Tuesday, after downbeat Spanish jobless data and as investors remained cautious ahead of the European Central Bank's monthly policy statement on Thursday.
During European afternoon trade, the EURO STOXX 50 eased up 0.01%, France’s CAC 40 edged down 0.08%, while Germany’s DAX 30 slipped 0.23%.
Official data showed that the number of unemployed people in Spain remained unchanged in August, confounding expectations for a 5,200 drop, after a 64,900 decline the previous month.
Global equities had strengthened on Monday, after data showed that Chinese manufacturing activity expanded for the first time in a year in August, while separate reports showed that manufacturing activity in Spain and Italy returned to growth for the first time since 2011.
But markets were jittery amid expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will start to unwind it stimulus program at it policy meeting on September 18.
Financial stocks turned lower, as French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale declined 0.87% and 1.20%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank slipped 0.11%.
Among peripheral lenders, Spanish banks Banco Santander and BBVA shed 0.31% and 0.30% respectively, while Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo fell 0.39%.
Elsewhere, Nokia shares skyrocketed 38.06% after Microsoft agreed to buy its handset business for EUR5.44 billion.
Adding to gains, Dufry surged 3.17% after the Swiss operator of duty-free stores said it signed long-term contracts with airports in Brazil and is investing USD250 million to USD275 million in its projects in the country.
In London, commodity-heavy FTSE 100 fell 0.10%, even as data showed that activity in the U.K. construction sector expanded at the fastest rate in six years in August.
Financial stocks were mixed, as the Royal Bank of Scotland saw shares slip 0.20% and Lloyds Banking retreated 0.41%, while Barclays and HSBC Holdings gained 0.30% and 0.62%.
Mining stocks also remained mixed, with Glencore Xstrata adding 0.27% and Rio Tinto surging 4.90%, while Fresillo and Evraz lost 0.24% and 3.55% respectively.
Vodafone was one of the worst performers on the index, tumbling 3.82%, as the telecommunications company forecast an adjusted operating profit of about GBP5 billion for 2014 after Verizon agreed to buy the company’s 45% stake in Verizon Wireless for USD130 billion.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.66% climb, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.87% gain, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.74% advance.
Later in the day, the Institute of Supply Management was to release data on manufacturing activity.
During European afternoon trade, the EURO STOXX 50 eased up 0.01%, France’s CAC 40 edged down 0.08%, while Germany’s DAX 30 slipped 0.23%.
Official data showed that the number of unemployed people in Spain remained unchanged in August, confounding expectations for a 5,200 drop, after a 64,900 decline the previous month.
Global equities had strengthened on Monday, after data showed that Chinese manufacturing activity expanded for the first time in a year in August, while separate reports showed that manufacturing activity in Spain and Italy returned to growth for the first time since 2011.
But markets were jittery amid expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will start to unwind it stimulus program at it policy meeting on September 18.
Financial stocks turned lower, as French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale declined 0.87% and 1.20%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank slipped 0.11%.
Among peripheral lenders, Spanish banks Banco Santander and BBVA shed 0.31% and 0.30% respectively, while Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo fell 0.39%.
Elsewhere, Nokia shares skyrocketed 38.06% after Microsoft agreed to buy its handset business for EUR5.44 billion.
Adding to gains, Dufry surged 3.17% after the Swiss operator of duty-free stores said it signed long-term contracts with airports in Brazil and is investing USD250 million to USD275 million in its projects in the country.
In London, commodity-heavy FTSE 100 fell 0.10%, even as data showed that activity in the U.K. construction sector expanded at the fastest rate in six years in August.
Financial stocks were mixed, as the Royal Bank of Scotland saw shares slip 0.20% and Lloyds Banking retreated 0.41%, while Barclays and HSBC Holdings gained 0.30% and 0.62%.
Mining stocks also remained mixed, with Glencore Xstrata adding 0.27% and Rio Tinto surging 4.90%, while Fresillo and Evraz lost 0.24% and 3.55% respectively.
Vodafone was one of the worst performers on the index, tumbling 3.82%, as the telecommunications company forecast an adjusted operating profit of about GBP5 billion for 2014 after Verizon agreed to buy the company’s 45% stake in Verizon Wireless for USD130 billion.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.66% climb, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.87% gain, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.74% advance.
Later in the day, the Institute of Supply Management was to release data on manufacturing activity.