European shares down at start of data-intensive week
For a Reuters live blog on U.S., UK and European stock markets, click LIVE/ or type LIVE/ in a news window
Aston Martin falls after warning of lower profit
Volkswagen falls on cutting 2024 outlook
STOXX 600 down 0.4%
Updated at 0800 GMT
By Pranav Kashyap
Sept 30 (Reuters) -European shares moved lower on Monday as investor caution kicked in at the start of a week packed with a slew of economic data from the region, and the focus turned to comments from ECBPresident Christine Lagarde.
The pan-European STOXX 600 .STOXX fell 0.4% to 525.86 points, set to drop the most in more than a week if losses hold.
However, the benchmark was set to gain for a third straight month, its longest winning streak in nearly seven months. It was up 2.8% for the quarter.
Real estate stocks .SXOP were the biggest weight on the index, losing 1.3%
Gains in the oil sector .SXEP kept losses in check. Oil prices rose on fears of an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. O/R
Basic resources .SXPP, which rose 1.2%, led sectoral gains as copper prices rose to their highest in four months on demand prospects after a series of stimulus measures from top consumer China.MET/L
Investors sold shares out of caution as they awaited a wave of key economic data through the week - including Germany's and Italy's preliminary inflation figuresfor September due later in the day.
Weaker-than-expected data from the continent last week pointed to slowing economies.
"You've got more signs of stagnating eurozone economic activity and that's probably one of the factors weighing on the European equities, said Elias Haddad, senior markets strategist at Brown Brothers Harriman.
Given that it is the month- and the quarter-end, "You may see portfolio managers selling to rebalance their portfolio. There isn't any fundamental trigger behind the pullback this morning," Haddad said.
Markets will mainly focus on comments from central bank officials. U.S. Federal Reserve's chair Jerome Powell is due to speak at 1755 GMT, while the European Central Bank President Lagarde is due to speak at the European Parliament at 1300 GMT.
The STOXX 600 touched record highs and saw its best week in nearly five months on Friday, on the backdrop of a series of stimulus measures from China to revive its economy.
Meanwhile, Britain's GDP figures for the second quarter showed its economy grew slower than expected. The FTSE .FTSE was down 0.3%.
Volkswagen VOWG_p.DE fell 2.8% after the German carmaker cut its 2024 guidance.
Stellantis NV STLAM.MI slumped 14% after the French-Italian carmaker slashed its annual guidance, citing a deterioration in global industry dynamics.
Automobile shares .SXAP fell 3.5%, the most among sectors.
British multinational private equity and venture capital firm 3i Group III.L dropped 3.5% after Shadowfall Capital reportedly took a short bet on the company.
Reporting by Pranav Kashyap in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala and Janane Venkatraman
Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
