Investing.com - European stocks were mixed 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 morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 eased up 0.05%, France’s CAC 40 fell 0.27%, while Germany’s DAX 30 dipped 0.02%.
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 in the euro zone, data 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 were broadly higher, as BNP Paribas slipped 0.27% and Societe Generale added 0.16% in France, although Germany's Deutsche Bank climbed 0.81%.
Among peripheral lenders, Spanish banks Banco Santander and BBVA rose 0.06% and 0.65% respectively, while Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo and Unicredit advanced 0.91% and 1.27%.
Elsewhere, Nokia shares skyrocketed 40.01% after Microsoft agreed to buy its handset business for EUR5.44 billion.
Adding to gains, Dufry surged 4.76% after the 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 edged up 0.22%, supported by gains in financial stocks.
Shares in the Royal Bank of Scotland added 0.10% and Barclays gained 0.87%, while HSBC Holdings rallied 1%. Lloyds Banking underperformed on the other hand, falling 0.22%.
Meanwhile, mining stocks were mixed. Glencore Xstrata rose 0.31% and Rio Tinto surged 4.88%, while Polymetal and Fresillo and retreated 0.14% and 0.75%.
Vodafone was one of the worst performers on the index, tumbling 1.43%, after 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 0.83% climb, S&P 500 futures signaled a 1.04% jump, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 1.16% rally.
Later in the day, the Institute of Supply Management was to release data on manufacturing activity.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 eased up 0.05%, France’s CAC 40 fell 0.27%, while Germany’s DAX 30 dipped 0.02%.
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 in the euro zone, data 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 were broadly higher, as BNP Paribas slipped 0.27% and Societe Generale added 0.16% in France, although Germany's Deutsche Bank climbed 0.81%.
Among peripheral lenders, Spanish banks Banco Santander and BBVA rose 0.06% and 0.65% respectively, while Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo and Unicredit advanced 0.91% and 1.27%.
Elsewhere, Nokia shares skyrocketed 40.01% after Microsoft agreed to buy its handset business for EUR5.44 billion.
Adding to gains, Dufry surged 4.76% after the 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 edged up 0.22%, supported by gains in financial stocks.
Shares in the Royal Bank of Scotland added 0.10% and Barclays gained 0.87%, while HSBC Holdings rallied 1%. Lloyds Banking underperformed on the other hand, falling 0.22%.
Meanwhile, mining stocks were mixed. Glencore Xstrata rose 0.31% and Rio Tinto surged 4.88%, while Polymetal and Fresillo and retreated 0.14% and 0.75%.
Vodafone was one of the worst performers on the index, tumbling 1.43%, after 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 0.83% climb, S&P 500 futures signaled a 1.04% jump, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 1.16% rally.
Later in the day, the Institute of Supply Management was to release data on manufacturing activity.