Stability of European stocks and the decline of the mining sector

European stocks were flat on Tuesday as uncertainty over the path of global interest rates sent investors cautious, while miners fell on fears of weak demand from China.

The European Stoxx 600 index settled at 461.17 points by 0710 GMT, at a time when investors focus on assessing signs of monetary tightening from central banks and data indicating slowing global growth.

The mining sector index fell 0.3 percent as metals prices fell on concerns related to the outlook for demand from China after a batch of weak economic data, but a 0.5 percent rise in banking stocks kept losses limited.

Trading volumes are expected to be thin with most activity on Wall Street halted due to a holiday in the United States.

German chemical Wacker rose 2.7 percent, to top the gainers on the Stoxx 600 index, after HSBC upgraded the company’s rating.