European stock markets diverge; euro sinks

Europe's stock markets mostly rose on Tuesday and the euro fell under $1.26 for the first time for two years as traders reacted to mixed economic data across the region.

But London's benchmark FTSE 100 index fell 0.37 percent to stand at 6,622.25 points around midday as markets digested mixed British growth data.

Britain's economy grew more than expected in the second quarter, but expansion in the previous three months was more sluggish than previously thought, revised official figures showed Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index climbed 0.21 percent to 9,442.62 points and the CAC 40 in Paris advanced 0.87 percent to 4,396.62 in Tuesday trading.

Madrid's IBEX 35 gained 0.86 percent to 10,778.4 points compared with Monday's close.

The euro slumped to $1.2571 -- the lowest level since the start of September 2012.

"The euro came in for a bashing again this morning, as inflation pushed further to the downside," said Joshua Mahony, analyst at Alpari trading group.

Inflation in the eurozone fell to 0.3 percent in September, the lowest for nearly five years, official figures showed on Tuesday, signalling that the European Central Bank may have to go even further to avert the threat of deflation.

Eurozone unemployment remained steady at a near-record 11.5 percent in August, unchanged from July, the EU's data agency Eurostat also reported, as economic growth stagnated and uncertainty over the crisis with Russia weighed on businesses.

The euro later recovered slightly to stand at $1.2595, which compared with $1.2686 late on Monday in New York.

"The euro has been dealt another blow today after the release of some mixed bag eurozone data," said Fawad Razaqzada, analyst at traders Forex.com.

The European single currency slid to 77.66 pence, the lowest point since July 2012. Against the British pound in later trading, the euro recovered to 77.73 pence, but down from 78.11 pence on Monday.

The pound fell to $1.6203 from $1.6241 Monday.

On the London Bullion Market, the price of gold slid to $1,210.01 an ounce from $1,219.50.

- Ebay surges on spinoff -

US stocks opened slightly higher as eBay's move to spin off its PayPal unit sent shares of the electronic commerce giant jumping 6.7 percent.

"Later in the day (the) focus will be on US consumer confidence expected to remain at a high level reflecting a continuing strongly growing US economy," said Markus Huber at Peregrine & Black.

Five minutes into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 17,078.67 points, up 0.04 percent.

The broad-based S&P 500 added 0.03 percent at 1,978.43 points, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.10 percent to 4,510.51 points.

Asian stock markets mostly slipped Tuesday, with Hong Kong hit for a second day as a pro-democracy protest showed no signs of abating and a gauge of Chinese manufacturing came in below forecast.

Traders took their cue from a negative Wall Street. Japanese shares were hit by a surprise fall in factory output while the yen edged up against the dollar.

Hong Kong sank 1.28 percent to 22,932.98 points, extending Monday's 1.9-percent loss.

On the corporate front, shares in Airbus jumped 2.29 percent to 49.67 euros, as EU authorities gave the green light Tuesday for its new long-haul A350 plane to enter service, opening the way for the first delivery to Qatar Airways.

Royal Bank of Scotland shares advanced 1.60 percent to 367.20 pence after the state-rescued lender said it would book lower bad debt charges than expected this year, helped by Ireland's improving economy.

In Paris, auto sector shares fell after a profits warning by US giant Ford. Shares in Renault were down 3.55 percent to 56.82 euros and in PSA Peugeot Citroen by 2.09 percent to 10.05 euros.

Shares in cable-maker Nexans jumped 1.94 percent to 29.45 euros after Credit Suisse brokers raised their investment recommendation on the stock.

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