By Tommy Stubbington
European stocks inched lower in quiet trade Tuesday, with
markets steadying after last week's heavy losses.
The Stoxx Europe 600 index was down 0.2% in early trade. The
benchmark had reversed early declines on Monday to climb 0.3%,
after concerns over fresh confrontations in eastern Ukraine gave
way to great optimism for the economy in the U.S.
The S&P 500 climbed 0.8%, after better-than-expected retail
sales data and Citigroup's earnings topped forecasts.
In Europe, investors are focusing on corporate results as the
first-quarter earnings season gets under way, although a
holiday-shortened week may lead to relatively subdued trade.
"Investors may remain reluctant to open new risk positions ahead
of the long Easter weekend," said Ian Williams, economist and
strategist at brokerage Peel Hunt.
In foreign-exchange markets the euro was steady against the
dollar at $1.3813. The common currency fell only modestly on Monday
after the European Central Bank suggested over the weekend that it
could intervene to weaken it, as investors remained skeptical the
ECB will act.
In commodities markets, gold was down 1.1% at $1,312.20 an
ounce, and Brent crude oil was 0.3% lower at $108.70 a barrel.
Write to Tommy Stubbington at tommy.stubbington@wsj.com