MW: Europe extends losses as U.S. data disappoints
By Barbara Kollmeyer
MADRID (MarketWatch) -- European stocks pushed further south on Wednesday after data out of the U.S. showed a weaker-than-expected picture on manufacturing and import prices jumped. The Stoxx Europe 600 index (ST:SXXP 264.84, -1.56, -0.59%) fell 0.7% to 264.52 after New York Empire State Manufacturing index fell to 4.1 in September, the lowest level in more than a year. In addition, import prices increased 0.6% in August, the biggest gain since April. Banks turned weak, joining oil and drug stocks that have been down most of the day. The German DAX-30 index (DX:DAX 6,240, -35.50, -0.57%) fell 0.7% to 6,232.51, while the CAC-40 (FR:PX1 3,744, -30.60, -0.81%) in Paris slid 0.8% to 3,742.50. The FTSE 100 (UK:UKX 5,544, -23.71, -0.43%) fell 0.4% to 5,542.46.
