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The pan-regional STOXX 600 index was down 0.1percent by 0742 GMT after a flat open, with most sectors innegative territory.
The European tech sector was the worst performer,down 0.8 percent as worries over regulation of
Cyclical stocks such as financials and industrials alsoweighed.
British advertising group WPP was among the biggestindividual fallers, down 3.2 percent after the company said itwas conducting an investigation in response to an allegation ofpersonal misconduct against its chief executive, Martin Sorrell,who denied wrongdoing.
German IT-leasing specialist Grenke was the bestperforming stock, up about 5.9 percent after a positive tradingupdate for the first quarter.(Reporting by Julien Ponthus, Editing by Kit Rees)