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European stock markets ended yesterday's session in negative territory, with the French CAC 40 and the German DAX indices declining by 0.39% and 0.53%, respectively. However, the British FTSE 100 gained 0.37%. The European STOXX 600 index dipped by 0.2%.
The industrial goods and services sector saw the largest drop among the STOXX 600 components, falling by 2.1%. The utilities and healthcare sectors lent support to the broader index, rising by 1.6% and 1.7%, respectively, and reaching their highest levels in eight months.
While the eurozone countries overall are experiencing an accelerating economic recovery, the pace is uneven across different countries and sectors.
Last month, the composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) in Europe increased to 53.7 points from 52 in February. However, the figure came in below expectations and preliminary estimates. The French and German PMI data also missed forecasts.
In the U.S., the services PMI shrank to 51.2% last month, down from 55.1% in February, falling short of the anticipated 54.5%.
The economic slowdown in the US and the EU is causing concern among market participants, reigniting fears of a potential economic downturn, just as concerns were subsiding following the bankruptcy of several American banks.
The industrial sector weighed heavily on the German DAX index, while the country saw an increase in industrial orders driven by the vehicle manufacturing sector. In the UK, the FTSE benefited from higher activity in the services sector.
Shares of UBS fell by 1.3% following its acquisition of Credit Suisse and statements indicating that the deal would be a profitable venture for the company.
Telecom Italia's stock rose by 0.5% after Italian media reported that KKR planned to make a better offer to TIM for the acquisition of its terrestrial network.
Shares of AstraZeneca climbed by 3.1% after the company announced successful trials of the combined use of two cancer drugs, Imfinzi and Lynparza.
US stock indices were mixed, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 0.24%, the broader S&P 500 slipping by 0.25%, and the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite losing 1.07%.
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