REFILE-Europe stocks fall early, dragged lower by oils

Fri Jul 10, 2009 3:31am EDT
 
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FRANKFURT, July 10 (Reuters) - European shares fell in early trade on Friday, with oil producers leading the losers following a negative statement from Chevron (CVX.N), the second-largest U.S. oil company, renewing concerns about corporate earnings.

At 0716 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 .FTEU3 index of top European shares was down 0.3 percent at 820.98 points, after having gained 0.8 percent on Thursday.

The pan-European index has fallen 7.7 percent since June 10, after rallying 38 percent from a record low hit on March 9.

"There is a lack of impulse, full stop," said Giuseppe-Guido Amato, strategist at brokerage Lang & Schwarz in Germany.

"Of course, the Chevron news is slightly negative, but only for the sector," he said, adding that lower oil prices also weighed.

Chevron Corp late on Thursday warned that second-quarter earnings would be hit by a sharp decline in U.S. refining margins, sending its shares down in extended trading [ID:nLA304080]. Its shares in Frankfurt (CVX.F) were down 1 percent.

Oil and gas stocks took most points off the FTSEurofirst 300, and the DJ Stoxx Oil & Gas Index .SXEP was down 0.6 percent.

Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.AS), BP (BP.L), and BG Group (BG.L) were all down between 0.5 and 0.9 percent.

Shares in German chipmaker Infineon (IFXGn.DE) fell 3.1 percent after the company said it is planning a rights issue, while Apollo Management LP [APOLO.UL] is to take a stake in the company. [ID:nWEA0423]

Around Europe, UK's FTSE 100 index .FTSE was down 0.6 percent, Germany's DAX index .GDAXI slipped 0.7 percent and France's CAC 40 .FCHI eased 0.6 percent. (Reporting by Christoph Steitz)

 
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