Europe close: Stocks slip as investors weigh outlook for US Fed policy
Stocks across the Continent are falling with some investors pointing the finger to the "calm and measured" stance adopted by US central bankers at their last policy meeting, as per the minutes of their deliberations released overnight, as the approximate cause of Thursday's move lower.
"The Fed's calm and measured stance in its most recent meeting was perhaps not enough for stock markets, which have certainly grown used to a rhythm of central bank actions, but the disappointment should not last long," said IG chief market analyst Chris Beauchamp.
Against that backdrop, by the end of trading, the benchmark Stoxx 600 was down by 1.07% to 365.64, alongside a 1.14% decline for the German Dax to 12,830.0 while the FTSE Mibtel had retreated 1.44% to 19,766.96.
Front month Brent crude oil futures meanwhile were off 1.5% at $44.69.
In the background, the US dollar was 1.03% stronger against the Russian rouble to 73.93 following news that leading Russian political opposition figure Alexei Navalny had been hospitalised, following a 'toxic poisoning' according to his spokeswoman.
As recently as 2017, Navalny's allies had accused radical pro-Putin groups of an attack against Navalny, Bloomberg reported.
Russian foreign minister Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was ready to consider requests for the opposition leader to be treated overseas.
Peskov also called on all countries - including Russia - to avoid interference in the internal crisis in Belarus.
His remarks appeared to follow a meeting between Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, from Belarusia's opposition, and Lithuania's foreign minister.
"There is no certainty that his condition was caused by poisoning," one of the doctors treating Navalny said.
Russia-focused steel maker Evraz's shares were near the bottom of the pile on the Footsie, although they had trimmed their losses, while Kazhakstan-focused copper miner Kaz Minerals was lower alongside on London's second-tier index.
In economic news, a gauge of consumer confidence in the Netherlands slipped from a reading of -26 in July to -29 for August.
Producer prices in Germany meanwhile were reported at down by 1.7% year-on-year in July (consensus: -1.9%).