MW:Europe stocks lower, led by oil, banks, Peugeot
By Barbara Kollmeyer
MADRID (MarketWatch) -- European stock markets opened with losses Friday, as investors continued to fret over global growth prospects after a series of rate cuts in Europe and China the prior day. Investors are also looking toward U.S. nonfarm-payrolls data later. The Stoxx Europe 600 index XX:SXXP -0.20% fell 0.3% to 256.16, with energy stocks leading the declines as oil prices fell sharply, and banks also dropping. The Spain IBEX 35 index XX:IBEX -1.10% dropped 1.1% to 6,875.20, with BBVA ES BBVA -5.79% ES:BBVA -4.14% falling more than 4%, and Banco Santander SA ES:SAN -1.92% SAN -5.26% off 2.2%. Shares of French automobile maker Peugeot SA FR:UG -5.67% sank 4% after a sharp drop in first-half sales, with the French CAC 40 index FR:PX1 -0.25% down 0.1% to 3,225.20. The German DAX 30 index DX:DAX -0.37% fell 0.2% to 6,521.09, while the FTSE 100 index UK:UKX -0.12% slipped 0.1% to 5,684.18.
