European stocks slipped Monday after the previous week's gains, taking a pause from a rally that has carried markets to all-time highs.
The Stoxx Europe 600 was 0.2% lower in early trade, having closed at a record on Friday. Data showing a slump in Chinese exports in March fanned concerns about growth in the world's second-largest economy, dampening some of the recent enthusiasm, analysts said.
Germany's DAX index fell 0.3%, France's CAC 40 was 0.1% lower, and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was down 0.2%.
The mining sector, which is highly sensitive to Chinese demand, was the worst performer, with resources companies on the Stoxx 600 down more than 1%.
Still, the pan-European index as a whole remains more than 20% higher this year, as an improvement in the eurozone economy and the onset of the European Central Bank's bond-buying stimulus program drives a wave of cash into stock markets.
"The ECB's full-scale QE has been a rocket fuel for European stocks," said strategists at Rabobank.
In currency markets, the euro picked up slightly against the dollar following a sharp decline last week. The single currency was 0.2% higher at $1.0602.
The U.K. pound was 0.1% lower against the buck at $1.4618.
In commodities markets, Brent crude oil was 1.0% higher at $59.54 a barrel. Gold was little changed at $1,204.30 an ounce.
