European stocks declined from a five-year high as investors weighed corporate earnings and China’s pledge to boost the role of markets in economic growth.

China’s top policy makers affirmed that markets must play a decisive role in the allocation of economic resources, as the central committee of the Communist Party of China concluded its first plenary session under the presidency of Xi Jinping, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Today’s comments build on China’s pledge to reduce the role of the State in economic activity and boost private participation as the world’s second-largest economy tries to replace debt-driven growth with consumption-led expansion.

Xinhua said last week that the plenum would be a “watershed as drastic economic policies will be unveiled,” including giving more scope to market forces and an overhaul of the household registration system that limits labor mobility.

National benchmark indexes fell in 16 of the 18 western European markets. France’s CAC 40 lost 0.6 percent and Germany’s DAX slid 0.3 percent. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 slipped less than 0.1 percent.

Norsk Hydro retreated 5.5 percent to 25.49 kroner. Vale, the world’s biggest iron-ore exporter, sold its stake in the company for $1.8 billion. Vale sold 407.1 million shares for 25 kroner each. If an over-allotment option of 40.7 million shares is exercised in full, Vale will have disposed of its entire 22 percent stake for 11.2 billion kroner ($1.82 billion).

A gauge of mining companies posted the worst performance of the 19 industry groups in the Stoxx 600. Anglo American Plc slid 2.3 percent to 1,440.5 pence and Fresnillo Plc declined 3.9 percent to 915.5 pence. Polymetal International Plc slid 5.5 percent to 536.5 pence.

Infineon Technologies lost 5.6 percent to 6.88 euros, the biggest slide since June, after forecasting a slide in profitability for its first quarter because of a revenue drop at its power-management chip division. Earnings before interest and taxes will amount to 8 percent to 10 percent of sales in the three months through December, the company said.

Swiss Life gained 5.1 percent to 189 Swiss francs as the country’s biggest life insurer said CEO Bruno Pfister will resign. Chief Investment Officer Patrick Frost will succeed Pfister on July 1. The company also said third-quarter premium income rose 8 percent to 3.29 billion francs ($3.57 billion).

U.S. stocks retreated as investors assessed corporate earnings and speculated on the timing of any reduction to Federal Reserve stimulus.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 14,588.68 +318.84 +2.23%

Hang Seng 22,901.41 -168.44   -0.73%

Shanghai Composite 2,126.77 +17.30   +0.82%

FTSE 6,706.42 -21.95   -0.33%

CAC 4,273.28 -16.86   -0.39%

DAX 9,084.09 -23.77   -0.26 %

Nymex WTI  $94.87 (-0.06%).

Gold $1281.00 (-0.01%).

European stocks declined from a five-year high as investors weighed corporate earnings and China’s pledge to boost the role of markets in economic growth. U.S. index futures dropped, while Asian shares advanced.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index fell 0.5 percent to 321.84 at 11:18 a.m. in London. The gauge has rallied for five straight weeks as the European Central Bank lowered its key interest rate and the Federal Reserve maintained bond purchases.

China’s top policy makers affirmed that markets must play a decisive role in the allocation of economic resources, as the central committee of the Communist Party of China concluded its first plenary session under the presidency of Xi Jinping, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Today’s comments build on China’s pledge to reduce the role of the State in economic activity and boost private participation as the world’s second-largest economy tries to replace debt-driven growth with consumption-led expansion.

Xinhua said last week that the plenum would be a “watershed as drastic economic policies will be unveiled,” including giving more scope to market forces and an overhaul of the household registration system that limits labor mobility.

Norsk Hydro (NHY) retreated 5.6 percent to 25.44 kroner. Vale, the world’s biggest iron-ore exporter, sold its stake in the company for $1.8 billion. Vale sold 407.1 million shares for 25 kroner each. If an over-allotment option of 40.7 million shares is exercised in full, Vale will have disposed of its entire 22 percent stake for 11.2 billion kroner ($1.82 billion).

Infineon Technologies lost 3.9 percent to 7.01 euros after forecasting a slide in profitability for its first quarter because of a revenue drop at its power-management chip division. Earnings before interest and taxes will amount to 8 percent to 10 percent of sales in the three months through December, the company said.

Swiss Life gained 5.9 percent to 190.50 Swiss francs as the country’s biggest life insurer said CEO Bruno Pfister will resign. Patrick Frost will succeed Pfister on July 1. The company also said third-quarter premium income rose 8 percent to 3.29 billion francs ($3.57 billion).

FTSE 100  6,712.81 -15.56 -0.23%

CAC 40 4,277.51 -12.63 -0.29%

DAX 9,084.69 -23.17 -0.25%

Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark index poised to gain for a second day, before Chinese policy makers conclude a four-day meeting to map out reforms in the world’s second-largest economy.

Nikkei 225 14,588.68 +318.84 +2.23%

S&P/ASX 200 5,393.09 +5.95 +0.11%

Shanghai Composite 2,126.77 +17.30 +0.82%

KDDI Corp. jumped to the highest in 13 years after Japan’s second-largest wireless carrier held investor briefings on the outlook for earnings and revenue from users.

Incitec Pivot Ltd., an Australian fertilizer maker, surged 7.3 percent after announcing plans to deliver savings.

GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Ltd., the world’s top producer of polysilicon used in solar panels, gained 2.5 percent in Hong Kong after third-quarter sales jumped more than 500 percent.

European indices declined with mining shares and the financial sector posting the biggest losses. Lower oil prices after the OPEC report that demand will drop in 2015 and the political turmoil in Greece weighed on the indices. Weaker Industrial Output in China put further pressure on the markets. The FTSE 100 index is currently trading -1.27% quoted at 6,379.71 points, Germany's DAX 30 lost -1.37% trading at 9,727.80. France's CAC 40 declined by -1.33%, currently trading at 4,169.84 points.

Markets await Eurozone's Employment Change and industrial Production data published at 10:00 GMT and later in the session U.S. PPI and the Reuters/Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index due at 13:30 GMT and 14:55 GMT.

Nikkei 225 14,269.84 +183.04 +1.30%

S&P/ASX 200 5,387.14 -13.52 -0.25%

Shanghai Composite 2,109.47 +3.34 +0.16%

FTSE 100 6,728.37 +19.95 +0.30%

CAC 40 4,290.14 +29.70 +0.70%

DAX 9,107.86 +29.58 +0.33%

Dow 15,783.10 +21.32 +0.14%

Nasdaq 3,919.79 +0.56 +0.01%

S&P 500 1,771.89 +1.28 +0.07%