European stocks ended in the red Tuesday, analysts blaming the selling in part on a surging euro as investors sifted through a mixed round of corporate updates. The benchmark ended with a January loss, giving up ground as the month wrapped up. On Monday, the gauge fell 1.1%, its biggest daily percentage drop since November, retreating alongside U.S. stocks, as some investors were spooked by President Donald Trump's executive order that banned citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the U.S.
U.S. stocks trimmed earlier losses but still ended mostly lower on Tuesday, as declines in industrial, technology and financials shares outweighed gains in health-care and utilities sectors. The main indexes still posted a third consecutive round of monthly gains. The selling pressure in early trade came amid signs that momentum following President Donald Trump's election victory in November was fading, and as a January gauge of consumer confidence retreated from its highest level in 15 years.
Asset prices stabilized in Asia-Pacific trading Wednesday after two days of declines for the dollar and equities, as investors position themselves ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy statement. But investor caution persisted.