European stocks fell, following three months of gains, as a report showed that Spanish manufacturing unexpectedly declined last month.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index fell 0.3 percent to 324.26.

National benchmark indexes retreated in 15 of the 18 western European markets.

FTSE 100 6,595.33 -55.24 -0.83% CAC 40 4,289.64 -5.57 -0.13% DAX 9,408.87 +3.57 +0.04%

Manufacturing in the euro area expanded for a fifth month. The final reading of Markit Economics’s factory index rose to 51.6 in November from 51.3 in October. Today’s reading was above the initial estimate of 51.5. In Spain, the gauge fell to 48.6, the lowest since May, and compared with a forecast 51.1.

U.S. manufacturing rose in November. The Institute for Supply Management’s factory index climbed to 57.3 in November from 56.4 a month earlier, the Tempe, Arizona-based group’s report showed. The median projection of economists called for a drop to 55.1.

In China, a report showed the manufacturing purchasing managers’ index, released yesterday, came in at 51.4 for November, matching the 18-month high reached in October and beating 24 of 26 economist estimates. A separate report from HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics today showed PMI was at 50.8 last month, compared with 50.9 in October.

ThyssenKrupp plunged 9.2 percent to 17.50 euros after saying it will increase capital and absorb money-losing businesses. Germany’s largest steelmaker agreed to sell its U.S. plant to ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp. for $1.55 billion, ThyssenKrupp said in a Nov. 29 statement. ThyssenKrupp had a market value of about 9.9 billion euros ($13 billion) on Nov. 29.

Enel SpA (ENEL) retreated 3.4 percent to 3.24 euros after Deutsche Bank AG said that its estimates for earnings at Italy’s biggest utility show no growth for 2013 or 2014.

Debenhams fell 3.8 percent to 93.10 pence. Barclays downgraded the shares to under weight, the equivalent of a sell recommendation, from equal weight, saying that the retailer’s online offering trails its competitors.

L’Oreal added 1.8 percent to 125.35 euros. The world’s largest cosmetics maker said it will repurchase as much as 500 million euros of shares.

U.S. stock-index futures were little changed, as investors awaited a report on manufacturing in the world’s biggest economy.

Global markets:

Nikkei 15,655.07 -6.80 -0.04%

Hang Seng 24,038.55 +157.26 +0.66%

Shanghai Composite 2,207.37 -13.13 -0.59%

FTSE 6,604.44 -46.13 -0.69%

CAC 4,282.39 -12.82 -0.30%

DAX 9,410.9 +5.60 +0.06%

Crude oil $93.40 (+0.73%).

Gold $1237.30 (-1.05%).

Most European stocks dropped, following three months of gains, as a report showed that Spanish manufacturing unexpectedly declined last month. U.S. index futures were little changed and Asian shares fell.

Manufacturing in the euro area expanded for a fifth month. The final reading of Markit Economics’s factory index rose to 51.6 in November from 51.3 in October. Today’s reading was above the initial estimate of 51.5. In Spain, the gauge fell to 48.6, the lowest since May, and compared with a forecast 51.1.

In China, a report showed the manufacturing purchasing managers’ index, released yesterday, came in at 51.4 for November, matching the 18-month high reached in October and beating 24 of 26 economist estimates. A separate report from HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics today showed PMI was at 50.8 last month, compared with 50.9 in October.

ThyssenKrupp AG slumped 6.4 percent after it said it plans to sell equity equivalent to as much as 10 percent of its market value as the largest German steelmaker found buyers for a U.S. plant.

U.K. department-store retailer Debenhams Plc fell 4.6 percent after Barclays Plc downgraded the shares.

L’Oreal SA added 1.1 percent after saying it will buy back shares.

FTSE 100 6,606.44 -44.13 -0.66%

CAC 40 4,279.39 -15.82 -0.37%

DAX 9,400.88 -4.42 -0.05%

Asian stocks swung between gains and losses as gauges China’s manufacturing growth beat analyst estimates and retail sales in the U.S. headed for the weakest holiday results since 2009.

Nikkei 225 15,655.07 -6.80 -0.04%

S&P/ASX 200 5,279.5 -40.55 -0.76%

Shanghai Composite 2,201.52 -18.99 -0.86%

Canon Inc., the world’s biggest camera maker, slipped 1.2 percent in Tokyo.

KT Corp. dropped 6.8 percent after the South Korean phone company forecast lower dividends.

Metcash Ltd. climbed 7.5 percent in Sydney after the supplier of groceries to retailers posted first-half underlying profit that beat analyst estimates.

Haitong Securities Co. advanced 5.7 percent in Hong Kong, pacing gains among Chinese brokerages, as the government prepares to end a ban on initial public offerings.