The Stoxx Europe 600 was down 0.1% in early trade. The benchmark had fallen 0.6% on Tuesday amid worries over Greece's negotiations with its creditors and a slide in oil prices that weighed down energy stocks.
The hesitancy spread to the U.S., dragging the Dow Jones Industrial Average into the red for the first quarter.
But in Europe, the Stoxx 600 remains nearly 16% higher this year, after an improvement in the economy and the onset of European Central Bank quantitative easing fueled a big first-quarter rally.
"The retreat should not sour the mood of eurozone investors too much, given the scale of the gains over the last three months," said Ian Williams, economist and strategist at brokerage Peel Hunt.
Germany's DAX was 0.3% lower Wednesday, but other indexes rebounded slightly from the previous day's decline, with France's CAC 40 up 0.1% and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 advancing 0.3%.
In currency markets, the euro was little-changed against the dollar at $1.0749, as investors awaited manufacturing data from the eurozone for signs the recent economic upturn is gathering momentum. The single currency had fallen sharply against the buck on Tuesday, but still remains well above last month's 12-year low of under $1.05.
In commodities markets, oil extended Tuesday's slide as investors continued to eye nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers which could raise the chance of increased Iranian oil exports.
Brent crude was down 0.5% at $54.85 a barrel. Gold was little-changed at $1,184.60 an ounce.
Write to Tommy Stubbington at tommy.stubbington@wsj.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 01, 2015 04:20 ET (08:20 GMT)
#FX
#Forex
#EuropeanShares
#LackImpetus
0 Response to "European Shares Lack Impetus"
Thanks for give comment.