BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (Alliance News) - European stocks were mostly lower on Tuesday even as UK markets held somewhat steady, helped by a weakening pound and M&A news.
Amid few positive triggers, investors awaited an announcement by President Donald Trump on whether he would withdraw the US from a landmark nuclear deal with Iran.
On the data front, reports on German industrial output, exports and UK house prices painted a mixed picture of regional economies.
The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index was down 0.3% at 388.49 in late opening deals after rising 0.6% on Monday.
The German DAX was losing half a percent and France's CAC 40 index was declining 0.4% while the UK's FTSE 100 was marginally higher as trading resumed following a long holiday weekend.
Cement giant LafargeHolcim lost 3% after its first-quarter recurring EBITDA fell 7.7% on a like-for-like basis, affected by the especially harsh winter in North America and Europe.
Adecco Group tumbled 5.4%. The staffing firm's first-quarter net income fell 26% due to one-offs and investments.
Danish hearing aid maker William Demant Holding plummeted 8% after warning of lower revenue.
Deutsche Post shares slumped nearly 6%. The German postal and logistics group confirmed its 2018 targets after reporting a fall in first-quarter consolidated net profit.
On the positive side, consumer products giant Unilever rallied 2.5% after commencing the first tranche of its share buyback program.
Shire PLC shares jumped 4% in London after Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical announced it had reached an agreement on the terms of a recommended offer to acquire the Irish drugmaker.
Similarly, Virgin Money Holdings soared 8.7% after receiving a preliminary and conditional proposal from CYBG.
