Investing.com - European stocks opened lower on Thursday, as markets paused after a recent rally in European equities.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 fell 0.31%, France’s CAC 40 shed 0.28%, while Germany’s DAX 30 slid 0.31%.
European equities had strengthened after data on Monday showed that the euro area fell back into deflation in February, cementing expectations for more easing by the European Central Bank at its upcoming meeting on March 10.
Financial stocks were broadly higher, as BNP Paribas (PA:BNPP) and Societe Generale (PA:SOGN) gained 0.52% and 1.40%, while Germany’s Commerzbank (DE:CBKG) and Deutsche Bank (DE:DBKGn) advanced 0.21% and 0.99%.
Among peripheral lenders, Italy’s Intesa Sanpaolo (MI:ISP) and Unicredit (MI:CRDI) jumped 0.89% and 1.41% respectively. Spanish banks BBVA (MC:BBVA) and Banco Santander (MC:SAN) underperformed on the other hand, slipping 0.12% and 0.17%.
Elsewhere, Ahold Kon (AS:AHLN) rallied 1.30% after the Dutch supermarket operator reported a 39.4% increase in underlying operating profit in the fourth quarter. The company also confirmed that it will be completing its planned merger with Delhaize by mid-2016.
On the downside, Adidas (DE:ADSGN) plummeted 1.96% after the German sportswear maker reported a more-than-expected fourth-quarter net loss of €44 million.
In London, FTSE 100 slipped 0.20%, weighed by Whitbread (LON:WTB), whose shares tumbled 3.16% after the hotels and coffee shop operator said it expects to report profit for the year ended March 3 in line with its previous guidance.
In the financial sector, stocks were mixed. Shares in the Royal Bank of Scotland (LON:RBS) rose 0.31% and Barclays (LON:BARC) gained 0.74%, while Lloyds Banking (LON:LLOY) slid 0.38% and HSBC Holdings (LON:HSBA) plunged 3.50%.
Meanwhile, mining stocks mining stocks were broadly higher on the commodity-heavy index as Anglo American (LON:AAL) climbed 2.61% and Bhp Billiton (LON:BLT) rallied 2.89%, while Glencore (LON:GLEN) soared 3.32%.
Aggreko (LON:AGGK) added to gains, with shares skyrocketing 7.15% after the temporary power generation company reported a 13% drop in pretax profit for 2015 but said it was on track to deliver £80 million worth of cash savings.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a lower open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.12% slip, S&P 500 futures a 0.18% loss, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.12% fall.