UKX FTSE 100 Index

By Carla Mozee, MarketWatch

Monthly gains still in sight

European stocks dropped Friday, with investors tackling a raft of economic data and a fresh batch of corporate results as the week and month draw to a close.

The Stoxx Europe 600 fell 1.2.% to 344.84. All sectors were in the red.

Among individual movers, shares of Restaurant Group PLC (RTN.LN) tumbled 23% after the restaurant chain operator issued a 2016 profit warning (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/restaurant-group-warns-on-2016-profit-cfo-resigns-2016-04-29-348593) and said its chief financial officer had resigned.

European stocks on Thursday (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/european-stocks-fall-beaten-down-by-boj-dismay-2016-04-28) ended with a slight gain after a mostly downbeat session.

"Markets are still coming to terms with the central bank announcements of the last couple of days, and the legacy of these decisions continues to impact through the markets, with U.S. dollar weakness continuing," said Richard Perry, market analyst at Hantec Markets, in a note.

The Bank of Japan surprised markets Thursday by not issuing a new round of stimulus for the world's third-largest economy. That sent the yen surging against the dollar. The greenback continued to lose ground against major rivals Friday, with the euro up 0.4% at $1.1395, after trading above $1.14.

At 10 a.m. London time, or 5 a.m. Eastern Time, European investors will receive readings on eurozone inflation, unemployment and the first reading of first-quarter gross domestic product.

The data should highlight the challenge of low inflation and sluggish economic growth the European Central Bank has been battling against.

For the week, Stoxx Europe 600 is looking at a 0.9% decline, which would break a two-week winning streak. The index for the month, however, is on track for 2.3% advance.

Indexes: Germany's DAX 30 lost 1.1% to 10,208.34, and France's CAC 40 declined 1.4% to 4,494.67. Italy's FTSE MIB shed 0.7% to 18,845.48, while Spain's IBEX 35 was dragged 1.3% lower to 9,149.00.

In London, the FTSE 100 fell 1% to 6,261.04.

Data: Among figures released Friday, French consumer prices unexpectedly rose to 0.2% in March (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/french-consumer-spending-rises-unexpectedly-2016-04-29). France's gross domestic product grew (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/french-gdp-beats-forecasts-spain-recovery-steady-2016-04-29) 0.5% in the first quarter, beating expectations for a 0.4% reading.

German retail sales unexpectedly fell 1.1% in March. (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/german-retail-sales-surprise-with-11-fall-2016-04-29)

Movers: Shares of International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (IAG.LN) stumbled 4.3% after the parent of British Airways cut its growth plans (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/iag-cuts-growth-plans-after-brussels-attacks-2016-04-29) in the wake of the Brussels terror attacks in March.

On the upside, shares of Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWS.KO) gained 3.3% after the Danish wind-turbine maker's first-quarter profit fell but beat analyst expectations (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/vestas-net-profit-falls-38-on-weaker-deliveries-2016-04-29).

Berkeley Holdings Group PLC (BKG.LN) was down 2.3%, adding to Thursday's loss, after a ratings downgrade by Credit Suisse.

See:Credit Suisse turns bearish on London housing market (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/brexit-fears-turn-credit-suisse-bearish-on-london-housing-market-2016-04-28)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 29, 2016 04:11 ET (08:11 GMT)

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