America News Agency

The pan-European Stoxx 600 provisionally closed 0.5 percent lower, with all major bourses and most sectors in the red. Mining stocks lost 2.3 percent while healthcare stocks were the biggest gainer, adding 0.8 percent.

Banking stocks shed 2.1 percent, with Italy’s UniCredit losing more than 4 percent, as investors looked ahead to the European Central Bank’s (ECB) latest interest rate decision later this week.

Shares of Maersk briefly climbed to the top of the benchmark but closed 0.6 percent lower, after the Danish shipping giant raised its full-year profit guidance as it flagged continued Red Sea trade disruption.

The ECB is widely expected to cut interest rates for the first time since 2019 when policymakers meet on Thursday. Still, investors will watch closely to see whether a slightly higher-than-expected euro zone inflation print released Friday will affect the bank’s forthcoming decision.