Paris (AFP)

European markets ended in the red on Monday and Wall Street was also taking the path, slowing down on Monday amid gloomy Chinese data for the momentum of the global recovery.

Europe has interrupted its race to the top: London lost 0.90%, Paris 0.83%, Frankfurt 0.32% and Milan 0.76%.

At the same time in New York, the trend was similar: the Dow Jones index fell 0.21%, the extended S&P 500 index lost 0.33% and the Nasdaq dropped 0.82%.

"Having seen the European markets register gradual gains almost every day since the beginning of the month, it was not too surprising to see them take a step back at some point," said Michael Hewson, analyst for CMC Markets.

Weaker than expected statistics in China have disrupted the vertiginous upward race of the markets.

Main indicator of consumption, retail sales in China experienced their weakest growth in July (+ 8.5% over one year) since the start of the year, a more significant slowdown than expected by analysts.

For its part, industrial production rose 6.4% in July over one year, but also less than expected.

"The Delta variant remains a factor of insecurity for investors," recalls Timo Emden, independent analyst.

In the United States too, the signs of slowing down are palpable: after the fall in consumer confidence in the United States published on Friday, it is the turn of manufacturing activity in the New York region to slow down more than expected in August after a record pace in July.

However, industrialists in the region remain optimistic about the months to come.

Financing conditions remain attractive and the earnings outlook has been raised in the second quarter corporate releases.

In addition to economic and health doubts, the situation in Afghanistan at the hands of the Taliban after the collapse of government forces has weighed on investor morale.

In the bond market, yields on US sovereign bonds continued to decline sharply while European equivalents were stable around 4:00 p.m. GMT.

Tesla's "Autopilot" under investigation

Tesla lost 4.67% to $ 683.66.

The American road safety agency (NHTSA) announced Monday the opening of a preliminary investigation into the driving assistant of the manufacturer of electric vehicles, known as "Autopilot", after a series of eleven accidents.

Raw materials at half mast

Around 4:15 p.m. GMT, the price of a barrel of Brent from the North Sea for delivery in October fell 0.91% to $ 69.93 in London.

In New York, WTI's US barrel for September lost 1.04% to $ 67.75.

Faced with investor concern over demand for black gold in China, oil stocks took a hit in London with Royal Dutch Shell (-2.34%), BP (-2.41%) and in Paris , with TotalEnergies (-1.23%).

The mining sector was also pulled down after the release of gloomy economic indicators in China, the world's largest market for metals.

BHP, which has also announced considering a sale of its activities in oil and gas, lost 1.81%, Rio Tinto has yielded 2.05%.

In Paris, ArcelorMittal fell 2.07% to 30.24 euros,

Luxury touched by China

Very dependent on demand from Chinese nationals, luxury goods were affected by the slowdown in consumption in the country.

The Parisian trio suffered: Kering lost 4.68% to 752 euros.

LVMH dropped 2.10% to 694.90 euros and Hermès 1.67% to 1,325 euros.

In London, Burberry fell 3.38% and, in Milan, Salvatore Ferragamo lost 3.74%.

Faurecia acquires Hella

The French equipment manufacturer Faurecia will buy a majority share of its German counterpart Hella (-3.39% to 61.04 euros) and proposes to acquire all of it to create a global giant in the industry.

Its share jumped more than 12.05% to 43.06 euros.

German state sells Lufthansa

The German state will sell part of its shares in the Lufthansa airline group.

This operation should concern a maximum of 5% of the shares.

The group's action lost 3.57% to 8.93 euros.

On the euro and bitcoin side

The euro lost 0.17% to 1.1777 dollars.

Bitcoin dropped 0.62% at $ 46,428.

© 2021 AFP