America News Agency

The regional Stoxx 600 index was down 0.23 percent at 2 p.m. in London, with sectors spread between losses and gains. Utilities stocks rose 1.97 percent, while the technology sector fell 1.17 percent. It marks the fourth day of declines for the Stoxx 600 after it closed above 525 points for the first time on Friday.

In Europe, Germany’s DAX was 0.26 percent higher by mid-afternoon Thursday after data showed factory orders increased 2.9 percent month-on-month in July. 

Figures out Thursday also showed that private sector payrolls grew at their weakest pace in more than three-and-a-half years in August, according to ADP. Companies hired 99,000 workers for the month, well below the Dow Jones consensus forecast for 140,000.

A weak July jobs report was a major factor in the broad stock sell-off at the start of August, and Thursday’s figures have put even more focus on the remaining U.S. jobs releases this week. U.S. nonfarm payrolls and unemployment data are due Friday.

To do so “might send a wrong message to markets and the economy. It might send a message of urgency and, you know, that could be a self-fulfilling prophecy,” he continued.

The technology sector has also pulled down markets this week, losing 3.2 percent in Europe on Wednesday.

U.S. chipmaking giant Nvidia suffered a wipeout on Tuesday, pulling down chip stocks worldwide. On Wednesday, the company denied reports that it had received a subpoena from the Department of Justice over antitrust concerns.

Asia-Pacific markets also extended losses Thursday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 suffering the steepest decline after wages recorded softer growth in August, potentially offering the Bank of Japan more room for a rate hike.