Nikkei 14,652.23 -188.84 -1.27 %

Hang Seng 22,500.67 -336.2  -1.47 %

Shanghai Composite 2,075.23 +18.93 +0.92 %

S&P 1,845.73 -13.72 -0.74 %

NASDAQ Composite 4,277.3 -30.82 -0.72 %

Dow 16,168.03 -153.68 -0.94 %

FTSE 6,708.35 -101.35 -1.49 %

CAC 4,290.87 -117.21 -2.66 %    

European stocks plunged the most in more than a month, retreating after reaching a six-year high last week, as investor concern increased that the escalating tension in Ukraine will hurt corporate earnings.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index dropped 2.3 percent to 330.36 at the close of trading, its biggest decline since Jan. 24. Of the equity benchmark’s 600 members, 575 retreated, while 19 rose. The measure advanced 4.8 percent in February as Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen pledged to follow her predecessor’s policy on economic stimulus.

The standoff over Ukraine intensified over the weekend as Russian President Vladimir Putin got parliamentary approval to send troops into the country. The former Soviet state put its military on combat readiness as Russian-speaking forces arrived outside the Ukrainian infantry base at Privolnoye on the Crimean peninsula.

China’s Purchasing Managers’ Index for February fell to 50.2 from 50.5 in January, according to official data released on March 1. A number above 50 indicates expansion. A private PMI by HSBC Holdings Plc. and Markit Economics signaled contraction, slipping to 48.5 from 49.5.

An index of euro-area manufacturing output based on a survey of purchasing managers rose to 53.2 in February, compared with the preliminary estimate of 53, according to a final reading from Markit.

National benchmark indexes retreated in 17 of the 18 western-European markets today. The stock market in Athens was closed for a holiday. France’s CAC 40 lost 2.7 percent. Germany’s DAX slipped 3.4 percent, for its biggest drop since November 2011. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 declined 1.5 percent.

Carlsberg, which owns Russia’s Baltika Breweries, slid 5.3 percent to 540.50 euros.

Nokian Renkaat Oyj lost 6.6 percent to 30.35 euros. The Nordic region’s largest tiremaker got about 35 percent of its revenue from the Russian region in 2012, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Metro AG retreated 5.4 percent to 28.41 euros. Germany’s biggest retailer said on Jan. 20 that it plans to proceed with an initial public offering of its Russian cash and carry business to raise money for expansion.

Bouygues declined 1.8 percent to 28.70 euros. Chief Executive Officer Martin Bouygues met with French President Francois Hollande on Feb. 27 to seek government support for the purchase of SFR, Le Journal du Dimanche reported, citing people close to the CEO.

Kuehne & Nagel International AG lost 3.1 percent to 121.70 francs. The world’s biggest sea-freight forwarder reported 2013 earnings before interest and taxes rose 20 percent last year to 761 million francs ($865 million). Analysts had forecast 763.8 million francs.

Global markets:

U.S. stock-index futures fell as Russia’s threat to invade Ukraine sent investors searching for havens.

Nikkei 14,652.23 -188.84 -1.27%

Hang Seng 22,500.67 -336.29 -1.47%

Shanghai Composite 2,075.23 +18.93 +0.92%

FTSE 6,700.72 -108.98 -1.60 %

CAC 4,307.67 -100.41 -2.28 %

DAX 9,410.28 -281.80 -2.91 %

Crude oil $104.07 (+1.44%)

Gold $1348.00 (+2.00%).

European stocks declined over the course of the day after a positive start. The FTSE and the DAX further retreated from all-time highs set yesterday. Investors now focus on the upcoming ECB meeting on Thursday.

Retail Sales in Europe's largest economy expanded in January far more than analysts had expected and fuelled bullish sentiment. The Federal statistics office Destatis stated the boost in sales comes amid lower consumer prices and strong consumption. Retailers profited from the high employment rate, the highest in Europe. Falling energy prices left consumers with more money to spend. Seasonally adjusted sales rose +2.9%, compared to revised +0.6% (previous +0.2%) in December. Analysts expected an increase of +0.6%.

On an annual basis Retail Sales rose +5.3%, the most since 2010. The previous reading was revised up from +4.0% to +4.8%.

The U.K. Construction sector expanded at a faster pace than expected. The Construction PMI rose from 59.1 points in January to 60.1 points in February, beating expectations of a decrease to 59.0. The increase was driven by a sharp rise in business volumes and an improving economy.

Eurozone's Producer Price Index fell more than expected in January with a reading of -0.9% compared to forecasts of -0.6%.

The FTSE 100 index is currently trading -0.11% quoted at 6,932.67. Germany's DAX 30 lost -0.06% trading at 11,403.42. France's CAC 40 is currently trading at 4,914.87 points, -0.05%.

European stocks declined the most in five weeks amid increasing geopolitical tension after Russia’s parliament authorized President Vladimir Putin to deploy troops in Ukraine. U.S. index futures and Asian shares also fell.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index dropped 1.7 percent to 332.23 at 10:46 a.m. in London. Of the equity benchmark’s 600 members, 572 declined, while 22 advanced. The measure rose 4.8 percent in February as Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen pledged to follow her predecessor’s policy on economic stimulus.

The standoff over Ukraine intensified over the weekend as Putin got parliamentary approval to send troops into Ukraine. The former Soviet state put its military on combat readiness as Russian-speaking forces arrived outside the Ukrainian infantry base at Privolnoye on the Crimean peninsula.

The U.S. warned Russia not to intervene in the region and raised the possibility of imposing sanctions. Secretary of State John Kerry travels to Ukraine today to offer support as Russian troops occupy the Black Sea region of Crimea. European Union foreign ministers will hold an emergency meeting today, while the Group of Seven nations suspended planning for June’s Group of Eight summit in Russia.

China’s Purchasing Managers’ Index for February fell to 50.2 from 50.5 in January, according to official data released on March 1. A number above 50 indicates expansion. A private PMI by HSBC Holdings Plc. and Markit Economics signaled contraction, slipping to 48.5 from 49.5.

An index of euro-area manufacturing output based on a survey of purchasing managers rose to 53.2 in February, compared with the preliminary estimate of 53, according to a final reading from Markit.

Nokian Renkaat Oyj (NRE1V) lost 6.9 percent to 30.26 euros. The Nordic region’s largest tiremaker got about 35 percent of its revenue from the Russian region in 2012.

Metro AG retreated 6.6 percent to 28.08 euros. Germany’s biggest retailer said on Jan. 20 that it plans to proceed with an initial public offering of its Russian cash and carry business to raise money for expansion.

Roche slipped 2.5 percent to 264.70 Swiss francs. Genentech, a unit of the world’s largest maker of cancer drugs, said an independent data monitoring committee recommended that it halt the Phase III METLung study of the lung cancer treatment because it hasn’t shown any clinical benefits.

Bouygues declined 2.1 percent to 28.59 euros. Chief Executive Officer Martin Bouygues met with French President Francois Hollande on Feb. 27 to seek government support for the purchase of SFR, Le Journal du Dimanche reported, citing people close to the CEO.

Kuehne & Nagel International AG slipped 3.5 percent to 121.20 francs. The world’s biggest sea-freight forwarder reported 2013 earnings before interest and taxes rose 20 percent last year to 761 million francs ($865 million). Analysts had forecast 763.8 million francs.

FTSE 100 6,692.09 -117.61 -1.73%

CAC 40 4,304.53 -103.55 -2.35%

DAX 9,422.87 -269.21 -2.78%

Asian stocks fell and measures of equity volatility surged amid escalating geopolitical tension over Ukraine and after an official gauge of Chinese manufacturing dropped to an eight-month low.

Nikkei 225 14,652.23 -188.84 -1.27%

S&P/ASX 200 5,384.33 -20.49 -0.38%

Shanghai Composite 2,075.23 +18.93 +0.92%

Rio Tinto Ltd., the world’s second-largest mining firm, lost 1.6 percent in Sydney with raw-materials shares among the largest decliners of the regional index’s 10 industry groups.

Mazda Motor Corp., an automaker that gets 73 percent of sales overseas, tumbled 3.5 percent in Tokyo as the yen touched an almost one-month high against the dollar.

China’s Shanghai Composite Index rose for a fourth day amid speculation lawmakers will announce measures to reform state-owned companies during an annual meeting this week.