European stocks weaken; German industrial production falls further

Investing.com - European stock markets weakened Thursday, with sentiment hit by fresh signs of slowing growth, both locally and in China, as well as worries about future Federal Reserve tightening.

At 03:15 ET (07:15 GMT), the DAX index in Germany traded 0.3% lower, the FTSE 100 in the U.K. fell 0.3% and the CAC 40 in France dropped 0.1%.

German industrial production weakens further

German industrial production fell 0.8% on the month in July, more than the expected 0.5% drop, data showed earlier Thursday, adding to the previous month's revised 1.4% fall.

This adds to a series of data releases that show the eurozone’s largest economy, and major regional growth driver, is struggling, and threatening to slip back into recession.  

The latest estimate of eurozone growth in the second quarter is due out later in the session, and the gross domestic production figure is expected to show the region grew just 0.3% on the quarter, annual growth of 0.6%.

But economic woes are not confined to Europe. 

China's exports and imports fell in August, data showed on Thursday, with exports dropping 8.8% year-on-year and imports contracting 7.3%.

While the trade numbers beat expectations, they show China's manufacturing sector remains under significant pressure and that policymakers will need to focus on boosting domestic demand to shore up growth.

China is a major market for Europe’s largest companies, and its faltering recovery continues to weigh on their bottom lines.

U.S. inflation worries weigh

Across the Atlantic, stronger-than-expected U.S. service sector data, released on Wednesday, pushed up concerns over sticky inflation.

Investors had just grown comfortable with the idea that inflation was retreating in the U.S., allowing the Federal Reserve to pause its rate-hiking cycle and the U.S. economy to avoid a dramatic slowdown.

There are a number of Fed officials due to speak later Thursday at a fintech conference hosted by the Philly Fed, before they soon enter the blackout period ahead of their meeting later this month.

Nestle moves into Brazilian chocolate market

Back in the European corporate sector, Nestle (SIX:NESN) stock rose 0.4% after the Swiss food giant announced that it is buying a majority stake in Brazilian premium chocolate maker Grupo CRM, with the deal expected to close in 2024.

Grupo CRM has more than 1,000 chocolate boutiques under the Kopenhagen and Brasil Cacau brands and a strong, growing online presence, Nestle said.

SAP (ETR:SAPG) stock fell 0.3% after the German business software maker said it has bought software management company LeanIX from investors.

Crude weakens on weak Chinese trade data

Oil prices fell Thursday, edging back from 10-month peaks as more signs of slowing Chinese growth overshadowed another draw in U.S. inventories, signaling tightening supplies.

The weak trade figures suggest the second biggest economy in the world, and largest crude importer, is at risk of missing Beijing's annual growth target of about 5%.

Data released late Wednesday by the industry body American Petroleum Institute showed U.S. crude inventories fell for a fourth straight week, dropping 5.5 million barrels in the week ending Sept. 1.

The reading usually acts as a precursor to inventory data from the Energy Information Administration, which is due later in the day. 

By 03:15 ET, the U.S. crude futures traded 0.4% lower at $87.19 a barrel, while the Brent contract dropped 0.4% to $90.27.

Additionally, gold futures fell 0.1% to $1,942.25/oz, while EUR/USD traded 0.1% lower at 1.0716.