By Sarah Jones Sept. 8 (Bloomberg) -- European stock-index futures fell, indicating the Stoxx Europe 600 Index may extend a decline in global equities. U.S. futures were little changed, while Asian shares retreated. Barclays Plc and BNP Paribas SA may fall after Meredith Whitney said securities firms may cut jobs as revenue growth begins to slow. BHP Billiton Ltd. and Rio Tinto Group declined in Sydney amid lingering concern about the Australian government’s planned mining tax. Vodafone Group Plc may rise after the world’s largest mobile phone company sold a HK$50.9 billion ($6.5 billion) stake in China Mobile Ltd. Futures on the Euro Stoxx 50 Index fell 0.5 percent to 2,715 at 7:31 a.m. in London. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index will open 35 points lower, according to IG Markets. Futures on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose less than 0.1 percent, while the MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 1 percent. “European markets are set to start Wednesday’s session on the back foot and with jitters being seen in the market over the strength of regional banks,” said Melbourne-based Ben Potter, a market strategist at IG Markets. “The downside could prove somewhat protracted.” Greek Bonds European stocks yesterday retreated from a four-week high, led by declines in financial shares, amid lingering concern about the region’s sovereign-debt crisis. Greek bonds plunged yesterday, pushing the yield on the 10-year security up 28 basis points relative to German bunds to 942 basis points, the most since the European Union and International Monetary Fund crafted a bailout package in May. U.S. stocks extended the retreat as the S&P 500 sank 1.2 percent, its first fall in five days. In Asia, Japanese equities led the declines as the yen’s rise to a 15-year high threatened corporate earnings in the world’s third-largest economy. Barclays, Britain’s third-biggest bank, and BNP Paribas, France’s largest lender, may follow their American depositary receipts lower after Whitney, the former Oppenheimer & Co. analyst who now runs her own firm, said securities firms around the world will cut as many as 80,000 jobs in the next 18 months as revenue growth begins to slow. The reductions, about 10 percent of current levels, will come after 2010 compensation payments, Whitney said in a report dated Aug. 31. Mining Tax BHP Billiton, the world’s largest mining company, fell 1.4 percent to A$37.91 in Sydney and Rio Tinto, the third-biggest, lost 1.2 percent to A$73.44. Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan signaled the final terms of the planned mining tax may depend on talks with independent lawmakers. A committee chaired by former BHP Chairman Don Argus is yet to produce a design for the 30 percent levy on iron ore and coal profits, Swan said today. Labor party Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who yesterday clinched the support of independent lawmakers Tony Windsor and Robert Oakeshott to form a minority government, said she can’t assume automatic support for her legislation in parliament. Vodafone might advance after the company sold its entire 3.2 percent stake in China Mobile in the biggest divestment since Chief Executive Officer Vittorio Colao took charge in 2008. Vodafone sold about 642.9 million shares for HK$79.20 apiece in a sale that began yesterday and was completed today, according to a term sheet for the sale obtained by Bloomberg News. China Mobile fell the most in more than a year in Hong Kong trading. Cie. Financiere Richemont SA might rise after the world’s largest jewelry maker reported a 37 percent gain in five-month revenue. The median analyst estimate was for a 28 percent increase. Dana Petroleum Plc may move after the U.K. explorer rejected Korea National Oil Corp.’s hostile takeover bid saying the of offer of 1,800 pence a share is “inadequate.” Dana said it’s worth 2,270 pence to 2,465 pence a share with “major additional upside.” To contact the reporter on this story: Sarah Jones in London at sjones35@bloomberg.net.

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