Share

European stocks drift lower

London - Europe's main stock markets dipped on Tuesday with sentiment hit once again by the crisis between Kiev and Moscow, dealers said.

In late morning deals, London's benchmark FTSE 100 index slid 0.28% to 6 565.46 points.

Frankfurt's DAX 30 retreated 0.72% to 9 271.64 points and in Paris the CAC 40 index lost 0.23% to 4 374.68 points compared with Monday's closing values.

All three key indices had rebounded slightly on Monday as positive US economic data over-rode concerns about Ukraine.

In Paris, shares in the world's biggest cosmetics group, L'Oreal, led the CAC index with a rise of 2.03% to €123.15, after it confirmed its full-year targets late on Monday despite a 2.2% fall in sales in the first quarter.

Wall Street had risen decisively overnight after encouraging retail sales data and solid Citigroup results, rebounding from deep losses late last week.

"Despite strong results by Citigroup and healthy US retails sales that help to prop up US session, Europe opened in the red, overshadowed by the continuous violence and clashes in Ukraine," said Varengold analyst Anita Paluch.

The Ukraine crisis returned to the market spotlight on Tuesday, as the nation's Western-backed leader Oleksandr Turchynov accused Russia of trying to enflame the country's southeast.

European foreign ministers meanwhile held back on unleashing punishing economic sanctions against Russia in hopes that EU-US mediated talks on Thursday in Geneva between Moscow and Kiev could help deescalate the most explosive East-West standoff since the Cold War.

US President Barack Obama urged Russian leader Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Monday to press pro-Moscow groups to lay down their arms in Ukraine, as the Kiev government sought UN help to tackle the growing insurgency.

"Geopolitical risk remains on the agenda after a frank chat between Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin during which both leaders probably took the chance to air their grievances," said analyst Chris Beauchamp at trading firm IG.

"So long as there is even the faintest prospect of a Crimea rerun in eastern Ukraine, markets will find themselves hobbled."

Washington has previously advised Kiev to devolve powers in order to avoid eastern Ukraine going the same way as Crimea, which Russia annexed last month.

Sterling mixed

The British pound traded mixed as official data showed that 12-month inflation slowed to 1.6% in March, the lowest for four and a half years. That compared with 1.7% in February.

The European single currency fell to 82.55 British pence from 82.61 pence on Monday, while the pound dipped to $1.6717 from $1.6726.

The euro firmed to $1.3803 from $1.3820 late on Monday in New York. The dollar eased to ¥101.81 from ¥101.82.

On the London Bullion Market, the price of gold decreased to $1 311.26 an ounce from $1 325.75 on Monday.

Asian equities were mixed on Tuesday, with Wall Street providing a strong lead after rebounding from a two-day sell-off.

Hong Kong and Shanghai were the main losers ahead of the release on Wednesday of Chinese growth figures that are forecast to show a further slowdown in the economic giant.

Tokyo rose 0.62% to finish at 13 996.81 points and Sydney closed up 0.55%.

On the downside, Shanghai lost 1.40% while Hong Kong tumbled 1.60% in value.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
42% - 375 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
58% - 517 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.90
-0.0%
Rand - Euro
20.43
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.34
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.1%
Platinum
907.85
+1.2%
Palladium
1,012.25
+1.1%
Gold
2,221.12
+1.2%
Silver
24.86
+0.9%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.8%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.8%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE