European stocks fall as miners and carmakers struggle

European stocks declined as miners and carmakers tumbled, while investors assessed gains after the Stoxx Europe 600 index rose the most in a week.

BHP Billiton and Glencore dragged a gauge of miners to one of the worst performances of the 19 industry groups on the Stoxx 600 as commodity prices slipped. BMW led carmakers lower.

The Stoxx 600 slid 0.7 per cent to 340.52 at 9.05am in London, heading for a 1.6 per cent weekly decline.

Shares climbed on Thursday for the first time in five days, rebounding from a two-week low, amid better-than-expected US data and confidence that accommodative central-bank policies will help support economic growth.

The volume of shares changing hands was 19 per cent lower than the 30-day average.

Jackson Hole

Investor confidence has been fragile, with the Stoxx 600 earlier this week capping its longest streak with no gains since June due to concern over the pace of Federal Reserve rate increases and a stronger euro. Investors are awaiting an annual meeting of central bankers from around the world in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, US, next week, in which Fed chair Janet Yellen is likely to cement expectations for a slow pace of rate increases.

Minutes from the Fed’s last meeting helped quell speculation that borrowing costs could rise as soon as next month, while the European Central Bank’s account of its last policy gathering showed officials were reasonably positive about the economic outlook, even in light of the risks arising from the UK Brexit vote.

The Stoxx 600, down 0.3 per cent this month amid thin trading, has been hovering around its 200-day moving average in recent days, a level that has proved difficult to hold in the past.

Among stocks moving on corporate news today, Moeller-Maersk rose 0.9 per cent after saying it is still considering several options in its strategic review after a local newspaper reported that the Danish conglomerate was exploring a two-way split into an energy and a transport company.

William Hill jumped 5.2 per cent after the UK's biggest bookmaker said operating profit for 2016 would be at the higher end of its forecast. – Reuters