Investing.com - European stocks turned broadly lower on Monday, after the release of mixed economic data out of the euro zone, while concerns over the outlook for growth in the single currency bloc persisted.
During European afternoon trade, the EURO STOXX 50 retreated 0.48%, France’s CAC 40 shed 0.32%, while Germany’s DAX 30 slipped 0.13%.
Official data showed that retail sales in the euro zone dipped 0.1% in March, in line with expectations, after a 0.2% decline the previous month.
Earlier Monday, data showed that the number of unemployed people in Spain fell by 46,100 in April, confounding expectations for a 17,100 rise, after 5,000 decline the previous month.
A separate report showed that Spain's service sector purchasing managers' index fell to 44.4 last month, from a reading of 45.3 in March, disappointing expectations for a rise to 45.6.
Meanwhile, markets were jittery after the European Commission revised down euro zone growth forecasts on Friday, saying it now expects the bloc’s economy to contract by 0.4% this year, more than the 0.3% decline it predicted previously.
Financial stocks remained broadly lower, as shares in French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale declined 0.02% and 0.95%, while Germany's Commerzbank slipped 0.18%
Peripheral lenders added to losses, with Spanish banks Banco Santander and BBVA sliding 0.54% and 1.33% respectively, while Italy's Unicredit and Intesa Sanpaolo shed 0.20% and 0.43%.
In addition, Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA slid 0.27%, trimming earlier losses posted after the company said that the load factor, a measure of seat occupancy, slipped to 73.6% in April from a year earlier.
Elsewhere, German industrial gases and engineering company Linde surged 3.71% after saying that operating profit climbed 13% to EUR953 million in the first quarter.
In London, FTSE 100 remained closed for a national holiday.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a moderately higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.06% rise, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.04% gain, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.16% increase.
Also Monday, data showed that Italy's service sector PMI rose to 47.0 in April, from a reading of 45.5 the previous month, beating expectations for a rise to 45.8.
During European afternoon trade, the EURO STOXX 50 retreated 0.48%, France’s CAC 40 shed 0.32%, while Germany’s DAX 30 slipped 0.13%.
Official data showed that retail sales in the euro zone dipped 0.1% in March, in line with expectations, after a 0.2% decline the previous month.
Earlier Monday, data showed that the number of unemployed people in Spain fell by 46,100 in April, confounding expectations for a 17,100 rise, after 5,000 decline the previous month.
A separate report showed that Spain's service sector purchasing managers' index fell to 44.4 last month, from a reading of 45.3 in March, disappointing expectations for a rise to 45.6.
Meanwhile, markets were jittery after the European Commission revised down euro zone growth forecasts on Friday, saying it now expects the bloc’s economy to contract by 0.4% this year, more than the 0.3% decline it predicted previously.
Financial stocks remained broadly lower, as shares in French lenders BNP Paribas and Societe Generale declined 0.02% and 0.95%, while Germany's Commerzbank slipped 0.18%
Peripheral lenders added to losses, with Spanish banks Banco Santander and BBVA sliding 0.54% and 1.33% respectively, while Italy's Unicredit and Intesa Sanpaolo shed 0.20% and 0.43%.
In addition, Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA slid 0.27%, trimming earlier losses posted after the company said that the load factor, a measure of seat occupancy, slipped to 73.6% in April from a year earlier.
Elsewhere, German industrial gases and engineering company Linde surged 3.71% after saying that operating profit climbed 13% to EUR953 million in the first quarter.
In London, FTSE 100 remained closed for a national holiday.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a moderately higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.06% rise, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.04% gain, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.16% increase.
Also Monday, data showed that Italy's service sector PMI rose to 47.0 in April, from a reading of 45.5 the previous month, beating expectations for a rise to 45.8.