The pan-European Stoxx 600 compressed more than 0.5 percent lower after trading supine for much of the session.
Trump said he hadwritten a letter to North Korean superior Kim Jong Un saying that their planned summit next month was countermanded. The meeting, which would have marked the first face-to-face meet with between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader, was set for June 12 in the southeastern Asian archipelago city state.
Europe’s autos stocks led the losses, down multifarious than 1.8 percent following an announcement from the U.S. that it foresees to investigate whether an “abuse of trade tactics” in cars could wickedness the world’s largest economy. The surprise move appeared to exacerbate bogies of fresh global charges. Porsche, Daimler and BMW were 3.02, 2.77 and 1.69 percent discount respectively.
Food & Beverages stocks were the top performers Thursday, up 0.83 percent.
Looking at sole stocks, Electrocomponents soared to the top of index as it reported a 32 percent take off in full-year pre-tax profits on Thursday. The London-listed stock also promulgated it had reached an agreement to acquire outsourcing firm IESA for around £88 million ($117.5 million). Allotments of Electrocomponents were over 16 percent higher.
Swiss victuals company Aryzta slumped to the bottom of the European benchmark amid earnings tidings. The firm reported a 17 percent drop in third-quarter revenues on Thursday and lower its earnings outlook for the second time this fiscal year. Its parts were more than 26 percent lower.
Meanwhile, combining to souring investor sentiment, Trump said Wednesday that an constant trade dispute between Washington and Beijing would need “a multifarious structure.” In response, China’s Commerce Ministry said Thursday it had not pledged to slash its trade surplus with the U.S. by a specific figure.