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European stocks drifted lower in early action Tuesday as traders look for a new catalyst after the big rally from the depths of March.
Down two of the last three sessions, the Stoxx Europe 600 SXXP, -0.58% eased 0.5%.
The finance sector struggled, with Natixis KN, -6.38% , Legal & General LGEN, -5.90% and Societe Generale GLE, -5.13% retreating.
The German DAX DAX, -1.10% , French CAC 40 PX1, -0.79% and U.K. FTSE 100 UKX, -0.79% each retreated.
The U.S. S&P 500 SPX, +1.20% on Monday turned positive for the year. Investors appear to be betting that even if the coronavirus spread accelerates, governments won’t be as strict as they were initially. The World Health Organization on Monday said it’s very rare for asymptomatic people to spread the virus.
The U.S. Federal Reserve, after European markets had closed, loosened the terms of its still inactive Main Street Lending Program. The Fed will decide its latest move on interest rates on Wednesday.
German exports fell a record 24% in April, while the Bank of France’s survey of the manufacturing and construction sectors improved sharply in May.
Of stocks in focus in Europe, cigarette maker British American Tobacco BATS, -2.46% BTI, -0.46% fell 3% after reducing its earnings and sales guidance for the year, blaming a 3% revenue drag due to lower international travel.
U.K. engineering group Aveva AVV, +2.73% rose 2% after reporting a 23% rise in adjusted operating profit on 9% revenue growth and maintaining its dividend payment.
Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average YM00, -0.53% fell 148 points.
