On Monday, European stocks fell due to ongoing concerns over the future of interest rates. This uncertainty was heightened following the February U.S. payroll numbers, which surpassed predictions, as investors are now turning their attention to the forthcoming release of crucial U.S. consumer price inflation and producer price data.
Simultaneously, investors are becoming more optimistic that the European Central Bank (ECB) could take the lead globally with a rate cut in June. The pan European STOXX 600 saw a decrease of 0.3 percent, landing at 501.56 after remaining stable, albeit with a slight upward trend, on Friday.
Also experiencing a decrease in the market were the German DAX, which fell by 0.7 percent, France's CAC 40 with a 0.3 percent drop, and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 with a decrease of 0.2 percent.
Infineon Technologies and ASM International, both tech stocks, saw more than 2 percent in losses due to investors capitalizing on recent high gains. Miners felt the pinch of growth concerns, with Anglo American and Glencore falling by 1.4 percent and 2 percent respectively.
After it was revealed that Elliott Investment Management had opted not to make a takeover bid for the company, British electronics retailer Currys saw its shares plummet by more than 8 percent. However, Marston's shares rose by about 1 percent as the chairman of the brewing and pub company confirmed plans to step down later in the year.
British Land shares fell approximately 1 percent after the company appointed William Rucker as its chair designate. In the meantime, tobacco manufacturer Imperial Brands saw a 3 percent increase after announcing a £1.1 billion share repurchase program.
HelloFresh shares rallied nearly 4 percent, providing the German meal kit giant some respite after suffering a more than 40 percent loss in the previous session due to a profit warning. Enel S.p.A., an Italian energy producer, saw around a 1 percent increase after its subsidiary E-distribuzione agreed to sell some of its distribution activities to the Italian utility A2A for approximately 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion).
