By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Europe's benchmark stock index dropped
for a fifth day on Thursday, after Chinese exports missed
expectations and investors waited for the latest policy decision
from the Bank of England.
The Stoxx Europe 600 index lost 0.2% to 339.22, after closing at
the lowest level since May on Wednesday.
The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index was slightly lower at 6,717.72 ahead
of the BOE rate decision at noon in London, or 7 a.m. Eastern Time.
Analysts widely expect the central bank to keep policy on hold.
Miners were among decliners after Chinese trade data for June
surprised to the downside. BHP Billiton PLC (BHP) fell 0.3%, and
Rio Tinto PLC (RIO) gave up 0.3%.
Burberry Group PLC (BURBY) rallied 4.2% after the luxury-goods
retailer reported a 12% increase in same-store sales in the first
quarter.
Elsewhere, France's CAC 40 index lost 0.4% to 4,343.56, while
Germany's DAX 30 index traded 0.3% lower at 9,776.53.
More must-reads for MarketWatch:
'Rotten rotation' could signal bull market living on borrowed
time
Fed plans to end bond purchases in October
Chinese hackers access U.S. personnel data
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires