European stocks declined as U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner said he supports the president’s call for action against Syria, offsetting better-than-forecast manufacturing data.

Boehner, an Ohio Republican, told reporters after meeting with President Barack Obama that the use of chemical weapons requires a response and only the U.S. has the capability to “warn others around the world that this type of behavior is not going to be tolerated.”

The U.S. Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing index increased to 55.7 in August from 55.4 a month earlier, the Tempe, Arizona-based group said today. The median forecast of 85 economists called for the measure to rise to 54. A reading of 50 is the dividing line between expansion and contraction.

National benchmark indexes declined in 11 of the 18 western-European markets today. France’s CAC 40 and Germany’s DAX each retreated 0.8 percent. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 lost 0.6 percent, while Greece’s ASE advanced 2.4 percent.

Vodafone lost 5 percent to 202.5 pence as Verizon Communications Inc. agreed to buy the U.K. company’s 45 percent stake in Verizon Wireless for $130 billion. The payout was structured to prevent Vodafone from ending up with a large stake in Verizon, two people familiar with the terms said. That forces Vodafone investors who’d prefer cash, or aren’t authorized to hold Verizon stock, to sell the shares they receive.

Nokia rallied 34 percent to 3.97 euros, its biggest gain since at least 1991. The deal with Microsoft includes 3.79 billion euros for the devices unit and 1.65 billion euros for patents, the companies said. Nokia Chief Executive Officer Stephen Elop will step aside to return to Microsoft.

Dufry climbed 3.4 percent to 130.30 Swiss francs. The company said it signed long-term contracts with airports in Brazil and is investing $250 million to $275 million in its projects in the country.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei  13,978.44 +405.52 +2.99%

Hang Seng 22,394.58 +219.24 +0.99%

Shanghai Composite 2,123.11 +24.66 +1.18%

FTSE  6,499.19 -7.00 -0.11%

CAC  3,998.23 -7.78 -0.19%

DAX 8,220.4 -23.47 -0.28%

Crude oil $107.37 -0.26%

Gold $1398.00 +0.19%

Upgrades:

Verizon (VZ) upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital Mkts

Downgrades:

Coca-Cola (KO) downgraded from Outperform to Underperform at Credit Agricole

Other:

Verizon (VZ) reiterated at Outperform at Oppenheimer, target raised from $55 to $56

European stocks fell slightly , partly offsetting yesterday's growth while the Stoxx Europe 600 up to an eight-week high against the background of the fact that many market participants expect the publication of data on business activity in the U.S. manufacturing sector . U.S. index futures and Asian shares rose .

Add that to the course of trade was also influenced by reports on Britain, the Eurozone and Switzerland, which were better than expected .

As the results of studies that have been conducted Chartered Institute of Purchasing and supply , as well as Markit Economics, business activity in the construction sector rose unexpectedly in August, which was supported by the improvement in output and new orders.

According to reports, the purchasing managers' index for the construction sector rose last month to the level of 59.1 from 57 in July , while the projected slight decline , namely to 58.4 .

Another report showed that economic growth in Switzerland in the second quarter slowed less than expected mainly due to private consumption and investment.

Real gross domestic product increased by 0.5 % , showed data released by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) on Tuesday . Economists had forecast a drop in growth to 0.3 % from 0.6 % a quarter earlier. Household spending rose 0.6 percent , the investment in the second quarter increased 1.4 percent after falling 0.2 percent in 1kvartale .

On an annualized basis , growth was more than two times higher than in the first quarter, and it was at 2.5 %.

The Stoxx 600 index fell 0.1 percent to 302.78 .

Nokia share price has jumped to a record in the history of 47 % in the first minutes of trading on news of the sale Microsoft Corp. business for the production of mobile phones. Note that the U.S. Microsoft Corp. in order to strengthen its competitive position in the growing market of mobile technologies has agreed to buy the business of the Finnish Nokia Corp. the production of mobile devices for 5.44 billion euros ($ 7.2 billion ) . For the business itself for the production of Nokia mobile phones and smartphones Microsoft will pay 3.79 billion euros. In addition, Microsoft will buy Nokia patents to 1.65 billion euros, the company said . Who shares show a growth rate of 38.39 % , and has risen to 4.1 euros.

The cost of Vodafone Group Plc (VOD) fell by 3.42 % , after the American telecommunications company, one of the largest in the United States and around the world , Verizon Communications has agreed to purchase from Vodafone Group Plc 45% stake in their joint enterprise for the U.S. $ 130 billion . reportedly , Verizon will pay for Verizon Wireless in cash and stock , and then have access to the profits of the largest U.S. mobile operator. Through the deal Vodafone will be able to return 71 % of net revenue ( $ 84 billion , including all of the shares ) to the shareholders , and to increase investment in its network to break away from the competition. Under the agreement , Vodafone will receive $ 58.9 billion in cash , shares of Verizon in the amount of $ 60.2 billion and $ 11 billion in small transactions.

FTSE 100 6,489.39 -16.80 -0.26%

CAC 40 3,985.53 -20.48 -0.51%

DAX 8,193.27 -50.60 -0.61%

Asian stocks rose for a fourth day, with the regional benchmark gauge climbing the most in a month, as Japanese shares were boosted by the yen weakening against the dollar and amid optimism the global economy is recovering.

Nikkei 225 13,978.44 +405.52 +2.99%

Hang Seng 22,382.89 +207.55 +0.94%

S&P/ASX 200 5,196.57 +8.29 +0.16%

Shanghai Composite 2,123.11 +24.66 +1.18%

Nissan Motor Co. climbed 3.2 percent, leading Japanese exporters higher as the yen touched a one-month low against the dollar.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. gained 3.4 percent after the government said it may may spend 47 billion yen ($473 million) to control radiation leaks at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant.

Rio Tinto Group , the world’s second-biggest miner, led raw-material producers higher, rising 3.1 percent in Sydney after metals prices advanced.

Nikkei 225 13,572.92 +184.06 +1.37%

Hang Seng 22,176.99 +445.62 +2.05%

S&P/ASX 200 5,188.3 +53.34 +1.04%

Shanghai Composite 2,098.45 +0.07 0.00%

FTSE 100 6,500.05 +87.12 +1.36%

CAC 40 3,998.48 +64.70 +1.64%

DAX 8,233.18 +130.03 +1.60%

Dow Closed

Nasdaq Closed

S&P Closed