Investing.com - European markets opened lower on Wednesday, as investors focused on a batch of euro zone economic reports set to be released early in the session and as concerns over new U.S. tarrifs dented market sentiment.
The EURO STOXX 50 eased 0.09%, France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.17%, while Germany’s DAX 30 was down 0.02% by 03:40 a.m. ET (07:40 GMT).
Markets were jittery after U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday approved tariffs on solar cells and washing machines imported to the U.S.
Earlier Wednesday, research group Markit said its German manufacturing purchasing managers index ticked down to 61.2 this month from 63.3 in December, while the services PMI climbed to 57.0 from 55.8.
Markit also said its French manufacturing PMI slipped to 58.1 in January from 58.8 the previous month, while the services PMI rose to 59.3 from 59.1.
Investors were still awaiting data on manufacturing and service sector activity for the entire euro zone.
Financial stocks were broadly lower, as French lenders BNP Paribas (PA:BNPP) and Societe Generale (PA:SOGN) slipped 0.19% and 0.21%, while Germany's Deutsche Bank (DE:DBKGn) and Commerzbank (DE:CBKG) declined 0.49% and 0.54%.
Among peripheral lenders, Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo (MI:ISP) fell 0.32%, while Spanish banks Banco Santander (MC:SAN) and BBVA (MC:BBVA) slid 0.32% and 0.33% respectively.
Elsewhere, Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV (AS:AD) tumbled 1.41% even as the Dutch-Belgian supermarket retailer reported a 1.6% increase in fourth-quarter sales to 15.8 billion euros, at the high end of market expectations.
On the upside, Novartis AG (SIX:NOVN) shares surged 2.36% after the Swiss drugmaker reported stronger than expected sales and profits for 2017 and predicted “sustainable growth” ahead.
In London, FTSE 100 shed 0.26%, weighed by Sage Group (LON:SGE), whose shares plunged 4.04% although the software provider reported a 6.3% increase in first-quarter revenue, in line with expectations.
Marks and Spencer Group PLC (LON:MKS) added to losses, with shares down 2.44%. The retailer made headlines last week after announcing plans to shut itsLondon distribution centre, putting 380 jobs at risk.
Meanwhile, mining stocks were broadly higher on the commodity-heavy index. Shares in Glencore (LON:GLEN) jumped 1.30% and Frensillo rallied 1.24%, while Randgold Resources (LON:RRS) advanced 1.19% and Anglo American (LON:AAL) climbed 1.28%.
Financial stocks were mixed, as Barclays (LON:BARC) edged up 0.13% and Lloyds Banking (LON:LLOY) added 0.16%, while HSBC Holdings (LON:HSBA) slid 0.32% and the Royal Bank of Scotland (LON:RBS) declined 0.36%.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.17% rise, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.12% gain, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.15% increase.