European stocks slide

London - European stock markets slumped on Tuesday, dragged down by disappointing bank results, as the EU cut its forecast for eurozone growth.

But the euro still managed to reach an eight-month high against the dollar, which tumbled also versus the yen on dwindling prospects of a further hike in US interest rates any time soon, according to analysts.

Weak earnings updates from German titan Commerzbank and Swiss lender UBS were partly offset by better-received numbers out of HSBC and BNP Paribas, whose share prices rose slightly.

But Commerzbank's stock dived 9.3% to €7.4 and UBS tumbled 7.5% to 15.29 Swiss francs in midday deals.

The European Union meanwhile on Tuesday cut its eurozone growth forecasts for this year, warning that global risks including the slowdown in China and the danger of Britain leaving the bloc were harming economic recovery.

Around 12:30, London's benchmark FTSE 100 index was down 0.9%.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 shed 1.7% and the Paris CAC 40 retreated 1.5%, compared with Monday's closing values.

"While European stocks finished April on a bit of a sour note they still finished higher for the second month in succession," noted Michael Hewson, analyst at trading group CMC Markets UK.

"It is hard to escape the feeling though that the recovery seen since the February lows continues to be a rather half-hearted affair."

The euro hit an eight-month high at $1.1616. The US currency fell to ¥105.55, an 18-month low.

Figures showing that growth in US factory activity slowed last month followed last week's soft consumer spending report and news that the world's top economy expanded less than expected in the first quarter.

The yen's recent rally, which picked up pace last week when the Bank of Japan shocked markets by not expanding its stimulus, has led Tokyo to warn of possible intervention as it tries to protect the country's exporters.

Attention was already turning to the release of US jobs data on Friday. Many expect a slowdown in hiring, which would in turn force the Fed to further delay tightening monetary policy.

The weaker dollar lifted US markets Monday, with all three main indices ending sharply higher. That filtered through to Asia, where most bourses were in positive territory.

In Asia on Tuesday, Shanghai rallied after three straight losses, while Sydney soared more than two percent after Australia's central bank slashed interest rates to a record low, sending the country's dollar sliding against the greenback.