European stocks closed unchanged from yesterday’s level, erasing intraday gains, as companies from Debenhams Plc to Syngenta AG and Nokia Oyj reported financial results.

Stocks erased gains after U.S. economic data missed estimates. A release showed the Conference Board’s index of leading indicators unexpectedly dropped 0.1 percent in March. Economists had forecast a 0.1 percent gain.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s general economic index fell to 1.3 in April from 2 in March. Readings greater than zero mean manufacturing expanded in eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware. The median forecast in a survey had called for a reading of 3.

National benchmark indexes fell in 12 of the 18 western European markets. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index and France’s CAC 40 Index were little changed and Germany’s DAX Index slid 0.4 percent.

Syngenta climbed 3 percent to 389.60 Swiss francs after the world’s largest maker of crop chemicals reported a 6 percent increase in first-quarter sales to to $4.60 billion, buoyed by Brazilian operations that helped offset weaker demand for seeds and crop chemicals in parts of Europe. That met the $4.57 billion average analyst estimate in a survey.

GlaxoSmithKline Plc rallied 3.2 percent to 1,658 pence, the highest price since April 2002, after advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended that experimental treatment Breo Ellipta be approved to treat a lung disorder.

Sodexo tumbled 9.6 percent to 64.03 euros, the largest drop since November 2007. The second-biggest provider of catering services cut its annual profit-growth forecast after first-half results missed projections. The company expects “stable” earnings before interest and taxes compared with last year, after saying in January it expected “modest” profit growth.

U.S. stock futures advanced as earnings from Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) to PepsiCo Inc. (PEP) exceeded estimates.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei  13,220.07 -162.82 -1.22%

Hang Seng 21,512.52 -57.15 -0.26%

Shanghai Composite 2,197.6 +3.81 +0.17%

FTSE  6,270.09 +25.88 +0.41%

CAC  3,623.27 +24.04 +0.67%

DAX 7,526.47 +23.44 +0.31%

Crude oil $87.18 +0.58%

Gold $1387.20 +0.33%

European (SXXP) stocks rose, snapping the biggest four-day selloff since July, as companies from Remy Cointreau SA (RCO) to Syngenta AG and Nestle SA (NESN) reported results. U.S. index futures also advanced, while Asian shares fell.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index gained 0.5 percent to 285.08 at 10:26 a.m. in London.

Some 29 companies on the S&P 500 including Morgan Stanley, Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. will report results today. In Europe, seven companies on the Stoxx 600 will also post earnings, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Of those that have posted results so far, 64 percent have beaten estimates for profit.

Remy Cointreau added 1.5 percent to 87.20 euros after the maker of Mount Gay rum reported a 12 percent increase in fourth- quarter organic sales, aided by demand for pricier variants of its Remy Martin cognac during the Chinese New Year holiday. That exceeded the median 8.6 percent growth estimate of 10 analysts surveyed.

Syngenta climbed 4.3 percent to 394.60 euros after the world’s largest maker of crop chemicals reported a 6 percent increase in first-quarter sales to to $4.60 billion, buoyed by Brazilian operations that helped offset weaker demand for seeds and crop chemicals in parts of Europe. That met the $4.57 billion average analyst estimate.

Debenhams Plc climbed 7.5 percent to 86.55 pence, for the biggest advance on the Stoxx 600. The U.K.’s second-largest clothing retailer reported first-half pretax profit of 120.3 million pounds ($184 million), in line with analyst estimates.

Nestle slid 0.9 percent to 63.75 Swiss francs after the company posted a 4.3 percent increase in first-quarter sales, excluding acquisitions, divestments and currency swings. That fell short of the 4.7 percent average analyst estimate. Higher prices contributed 2 percent to sales growth, more than analysts’ estimates of 1.2 percent.

At that moment:

FTSE 100 6,274.33 +30.12 +0.48%

CAC 40 3,634.68 +35.45 +0.98%

DAX 7,551.27 +48.24 +0.64%

Asian stocks fell, with the regional benchmark index set for its biggest drop in a month, led by mining companies as commodities slumped on concern weaker global economic growth will crimp demand for raw materials.

Nikkei 225 13,220.07 -162.82 -1.22%

Hang Seng 21,490.56 -79.11 -0.37%

S&P/ASX 200 4,924.4 -80.15 -1.60%

Shanghai Composite 2,197.6 +3.81 +0.17%

BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s biggest miner, sank 4.3 percent in Sydney.

LG Display Co., which supplies touch screens for Apple Inc., dropped 4.8 percent in Seoul after audio-chip maker Cirrus Logic Inc. reported an inventory glut that suggests iPhone sales may fall short of expectations.

Softbank Corp., Japan’s third-largest wireless carrier, lost 1.6 percent as a rival’s bid for Sprint Nextel Corp. gained shareholder support.

Change % Change Last

Nikkei 225 13,221.44 -54.22 -0.41%

Hang Seng 21,763.94 -8.73 -0.04%

S&P/ASX 200 4,950.8 -17.11 -0.34%

Shanghai Composite 2,194.85 +12.90 +0.59%

FTSE 100 6,244.21 -60.37 -0.96%

CAC 40 3,599.23 -86.56 -2.35%

DAX 7,503.03 -179.55 -2.34%

DJIA 14,618.60 -138.19 -0.94%

S&P 500 1,552.01 -22.56 -1.43%

NASDAQ 3,204.67 -59.96 -1.84%