LONDON — European markets stumbled on Thursday as an early boost from Nvidia's bumper earnings report and falling bond yields faded through the session.
European markets
After three consecutive positive sessions and a strong open, the pan-European Stoxx 600 index closed 0.4% lower. Financial services added 0.5% while tech stocks retreated from a recent rally to fall 2.3%.
The European blue chip index gained Wednesday even as euro zone purchasing managers' index figures came in well below expectations and services activity slid into decline.
Shares in Asia-Pacific rose on Thursday, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng index leading gains as investors reacted to a blockbuster earnings report from U.S. artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia.
U.S. stocks were little-changed in early trade.
Investors are also awaiting comments from U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Friday at the conclusion of the central bank's symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, which Wall Street hopes will offer some insight into the likely path of interest rates.