Europe open: Shares slip ahead of policy meetings, miners weaker
European stocks slipped at the opening on Tuesday as investors continued to wait for key central bank meeting this week for decisions on rate rises and asset purchase tapering.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index slipped 0.3% in early deals with most regional bourses lower. Germany’s DAX outperformed with a 0.2% rise.
Asian stocks finished the overnight session mixed. Traders are eying US Federal Reserve, Bank of England and Reserve Bank of Australia policy meetings.
Mining stocks were lower on the back of a fall in the iron ore market and copper prices. Anglo American, BHP, Glencore, Antofagasta and Rio Tinto all fell.
In equity news, Standard Chartered slumped 5.85% despite reporting a stronger-than-expected pre-tax profit for the third quarter helped by lower credit charges.
Online betting group Flutter Entertainment slumped 7.4% after lowering full-year guidance due to unfavourable sports results and a temporary exit from the Netherlands.
THG was in the wars again, falling 4.78% on the back of reports BlackRock was preparing to sell nearly half of its stake in the company.
On the other side of the ledger, shares in meal-kit delivery firm HelloFresh soared 14% after raising its sales forecast for 2021.