European stocks fell as investors weighed the risks to the US debt deal

European stocks fell on Tuesday, affected by uncertainty that Congress will pass the US debt ceiling agreement to avert the country from a catastrophic default.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 0.2% by 0716 GMT, amid expectations that trading would gain momentum as the US and UK markets reopened after a holiday.

On Monday, some Republican lawmakers said they would oppose a deal to raise the $31.4 trillion US debt ceiling, a sign that Congress may struggle to pass the deal before the government runs out of money next week.

Nestle shares fell 0.8 percent after the Swiss food group said it had appointed Anna Manz, chief financial officer of the London Stock Exchanges Group, as its new chief financial officer.

Unilever shares fell 0.6% after the consumer goods giant said its chief financial officer would leave by the end of May 2024.

Shares in Around Town fell about 2 percent to a record low after the German real estate company published first-quarter results.