Weak China data halts winning streak for European stocks

Aug 16 (Reuters) – A 10-day run of gains for European stocks came to a halt on Monday following a surprise slowdown in China’s economic indicators, with commodity-linked stocks falling the most.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) fell 0.4% to 473.8, easing from a record level scaled last week.

Oil (.SXEP) and mining stocks (.SXPP) fell more than 1% each as commodity prices took a hit after Chinese data raised concerns about faltering demand in the world’s major consumer of metals and oil.

China’s factory output and retail sales growth slowed sharply and missed expectations in July as new COVID-19 outbreaks and floods disrupted business operations. read more

China-exposed luxury names such as LVMH (LVMH.PA), Gucci-owner Kering (PRTP.PA) and Cartier-maker Richemont (CFR.S) fell between 1% and 1.5%.

“European markets will pay attention to U.S. and China growth concerns… especially as Europe’s data calendar is almost empty today,” Jeffrey Halley, a senior market analyst at OANDA, wrote in a note.

“The widespread outbreaks and restrictions would be a game-changer for the Asia recovery, and one could argue, the global one as well when one considers the implications to supply chains.”

Optimism around the second-quarter earnings season, a revival in dealmaking and the pace of vaccinations in Europe drove the benchmark STOXX 600 to record highs last week.

However, major money houses are mixed about the outlook for equity markets, with Bank of America setting a year-end target of 420 points for the STOXX 600, while Goldman Sachs lifted its 12-month target to 520 points.

All eyes now will be on U.S. economic data due this week and the U.S. Federal Reserve’s minutes from its July policy meeting to gauge when and how the central bank will start tightening its monetary policy.

A Reuters poll of economists showed the European Central Bank is likely to announce long-awaited plans to reduce its pandemic-related asset purchases in the next quarter.

French car parts supplier Faurecia SE (EPED.PA) jumped 6% after it agreed to acquire a majority stake in German automotive lighting group Hella (HLE.DE), trumping rival bidders with a 6.7 billion euros deal.

Hella, whose shares hit a record high last week on anticipation of a deal, slipped 2.7%.

Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) fell 2.9% after the German finance agency unveiled plans to sell up to a quarter of its 20% stake in the airline. read more

The broader travel and leisure index (.SXTP) was down 1.3% as the fast-spreading Delta variant of COVID-19 remained a concern, particularly as many Asian economies imposed movement restrictions.

Reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Subhranshu Sahu

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