BLBG: European Stocks Decline as Greece Debt Talks Set to Intensify
European stocks fell for the third time in four days as Greece’s creditors said talks must step up over the country’s fate before it runs out of time and money.
The Stoxx Europe 600 Index declined 0.3 percent to 399.21 at 8:32 a.m. in London. A report at 11 a.m. Frankfurt time may show euro-area inflation rate rose in May after stagnating in April.
European leaders and the head of the International Monetary Fund agreed at an extraordinary meeting that work to avert a Greek default must be continued with greater intensity, a statement from German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s office said. Greece owes four payments to the IMF this month, and its aid package backed by the euro region expires at the end of June.
Stocks on Monday halted a two-day drop amid optimism Greece may reach a deal by the end of the week, before resuming declines today. The country’s ASE Index lost 0.1 percent as it reopened after a holiday.
Among stocks active on corporate news, Aryzta AG lost 6.3 percent after posting revenue that missed analysts’ estimates. That helped push a gauge of food and beverage shares to the worst performance among Stoxx 600 industry groups.
Wolseley Plc gained 1.9 percent after reporting an increase in quarterly same-store sales.