European stocks fell on Monday in cautious trading ahead of the publication of data on business activity amid concerns about the economic slowdown in the European Union.
Stocks posted gains for the seventh consecutive week on Friday, supported by China’s easing of COVID-19 restrictions following protests against the country’s strict “zero Covid” policy and easing concerns about raising interest rates.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 index fell 0.2 percent at 8:06 am GMT on Monday, with technology stocks and industrial stocks recording the biggest drop on the index.
The final services PMI figures are expected to be released at 9 am GMT and are likely to show a continued slowdown in economic activity in the eurozone in November.
At the same time, shares of British mobile operator Vodafone Group rose 1.6 percent in early trading.
The company had said Chief Executive Officer Nick Reed would step down at the end of this year and be replaced on an interim basis by Chief Financial Officer Margherita Della Valle.