Europe stocks mixed after three straight declines; U.S. jobs data in focus
European stock markets were mixed Thursday morning, continuing a negative run after closing last week at a record high.
The regional Stoxx 600 index opened slightly lower before nudging just above the flatline, with sectors spread between losses and gains. Utilities stocks rose 1.05% as chemicals fell 0.5%.
The Stoxx 600 has tumbled in the first three trading sessions of September after closing above 525 points for the first time on Friday.
Global sentiment has yet again been rattled by U.S. data, after weak manufacturing surveys and lower-than-expected jobs openings suggested a slowdown in the world's biggest economy ââ-š¬Ã¢â‚¬ and revived debate about whether the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates by 50 rather than 25 basis points this month.
That has put even more focus on the remaining U.S. jobs releases out this week, particularly initial jobless claims on Thursday and nonfarm payrolls and the unemployment rate on Friday.
A weak July jobs report was a major factor in the broad stock sell-off at the start of August.
Source: CNBC
