European stocks returned to gains on Tuesday, closing marginally higher with investors closely following recent economic data that renewed concerns over the pace of recovery with the spread of the Coronavirus Delta variant.
The STOXX Europe 600 index added 0.33 points, or 0.07%, to close at 473.78 points.
The healthcare sector led the gains, adding 1%.
Auto stocks tumbled by 1.8%, as retail sales data in the U.S. showed weaker automobile sales due to the global shortage of semiconductors.
Germany’s biggest semiconductor company, Infineon Technologies, estimates the shortage could continue until 2023.
Yesterday, the pan-European index ended its best rising streak in about 14 years that lasted for 10 consecutive sessions.
The French CAC40 index lost 0.28%, the German DAX finished marginally lower by 0.02%, with both indices closing in red for the second day in a row.
Meanwhile, the UK’s FTSE100 registered its best performance since last Wednesday, adding 0.38% and closing at 7,181.11 points.