European stocks finished with solid gains Tuesday, breaking a string of losses as concerns about a potential global trade war eased and as investors turned their focus to merger news and other corporate developments.

U.S. stocks ended sharply lower Tuesday, as a selloff in the technology sector fueled a rout that wiped out much of Monday's sizable gains. Recent weakness has been attributed to concerns over a potential trade war between China and the U.S. as investors assess the likelihood of any protectionist policies and the impact of any retaliatory measures from trading partners.

Technology stocks led the way lower in Asia on Wednesday, dragged by the sector's slide in the U.S., as the region lost its early-week gains.