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Frankfurt - European shares resumed losses as automakers and oil producers tumbled, while investors speculated on the potential timing of a Federal Reserve interest rate increase.
Fiat Chrysler Automobile dragged car makers to the biggest loss on the Stoxx Europe 600 Index after a report that the German transport authority accused it of manipulating pollution emissions, which it denies.
Bayer led chemical stocks lower, sliding 3.5% after disclosing financial terms of its offer to acquire Monsanto amid concern that it might overpay. Oil shares lost as crude retreated for a fourth day.
The Stoxx 600 dropped 0.4% to 336.67 in London, after earlier gaining as much as 0.4% and falling 0.8%.
Shares climbed the most in a month on Friday as investors shrugged off concerns that a Fed interest rate increase as early as June will derail the US economic recovery. Still, the rate outlook remains in focus and investors will look to data this week and comments today from regional Fed chiefs for St. Louis, San Francisco and Philadelphia for indications on the trajectory of borrowing costs.
"The whole market is in a classic sideways path, trading in a very narrow range," said Herbert Perus, head of equities at Raiffeisen Capital Management in Vienna. "There is a lot of discussion about interest rates in the US and the data we will see this week is important - maybe then we’ll have a better idea of what’s going on in June, July, or September."
A European stock rally from a February low has stumbled since reaching a three-month high in April amid concerns about global-growth prospects, mixed earnings reports and the efficacy of central bank policies.
Even after last week’s advance, the index is down 4% from its recent peak.
Greece’s ASE Index jumped 1.5% today, leading gains in the region. The country’s creditors are preparing to disburse €11bn once a review of its bailout plan is successfully completed, according to a European Commission compliance report seen by Bloomberg News.
Among stocks moving on corporate news, Aixtron SE jumped 15% after the German supplier of semiconductor equipment said it has agreed to a €670M takeover bid from a group of Chinese investors.
Apple suppliers AMS and Dialog Semiconductor Plc rose at least 2.7% after a report that the iPhone maker has asked suppliers to prepare production for a new version of its smartphones.
