By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- European stock markets showed mixed
moves on Wednesday, after posting solid gains the prior day, with
investors staying cautious ahead of a deluge of data from both the
U.S. and Europe.
The Stoxx Europe 600 index fell 0.1% to 289.70, retreating from
a 1.1% rally on Tuesday.
Shares of Royal KPN NV slumped 5.3%, as the Dutch telecom firm
said its largest shareholder, Mexico's America Movil, (AMX) has
agreed to back a planned capital increase of four billion euros
($5.37 billion).
Shares of Akzo Nobel NV shaved off 4.5%. The Dutch paints and
coatings firm said it outlined new financial targets for 2015 after
posting a net loss for the fourth quarter.
For the broader European stock market, investors awaited a raft
of economic releases. Euro-zone-consumer-confidence figures, U.S.
housing starts and minutes from the Bank of England's latest policy
meeting were all on tap.
After the European market close, minutes from the January
Federal Reserve meeting were also due.
"The December minutes were surprising as they revealed that a
majority of the [policy-making Federal Open Market Committee]
wanted to scale back asset purchases this year and potentially end
the purchase program before year-end," analysts at Danske Bank said
in a note. "The January minutes will therefore be scrutinized for
new information about the timing of an exit."
Among country-specific indexes in Europe, Germany's DAX 30 index
gained 0.3% to 7,771.24, with shares of HeidelbergCement AG up
1.8%.
In France, the CAC 40 index lost 0.1% to 3,732.35, even as
Société Générale SA gained 0.7% on the back of a broker upgrade.
HSBC lifted the bank to overweight from neutral.
The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index was marginally lower at 6,377.81.
Shares of heavyweight miner BHP Billiton PLC (BHP) fell 2.1%, as
the firm reported a 58% drop in first-half profit and said Chief
Executive Marius Kloppers will retire.
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