UKX FTSE 100 Index

By Dave Morris

European markets declined as a resolution to the U.S.-China trade war seemed to move further away.

How did markets perform?

The Stoxx Europe 600 edged lower as investors abandoned the hints of optimism from Thursday and Friday's sessions.

The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index was the most negatively impacted among top regional indexes, with unrest in Hong Kong driving major banks sharply downward.

German's DAX was close to flat, despite falling auto maker shares on news of slowing hybrid and fully electric auto sales in China.

The pound rebounded slightly from a disastrous few sessions, with traders taking stock of last week's dramatic moves lower.

What's moving the markets?

U.S. President Donald Trump continued firing Twitter salvos in the trade dispute with China on Saturday. Trump said China badly wanted to make a deal with the U.S., and that they may want to wait to see if a Democrat wins the election in 2020 "so they can continue the great ripoff of America". The tweets cast doubt over whether talks scheduled to be held in September would take place.

Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini dismissed reports in the country's media Saturday that his party would call for leaving the euro in a snap election campaign. Salvini's party, which is part of the country's governing coalition, filed a no-confidence motion Friday. It has recalled its members to Rome with the intention of pushing for a vote on the motion this week.

Which stocks are active?

Tullow Oil PLC (TLW.LN) shares leapt when it released a statement Monday morning announcing the oil it had discovered in an exploration well off Guyana had exceeded its forecast. AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould said "It is an encouraging start to drilling on the Orinduik block. Investors don't have too long to wait to see if this is a one-off or if a repeat performance can be conjured, with drilling on a second well set to get underway imminently."

AMS AG (AMS.EB) shares fell significantly after the Austrian semiconductor company announced it would offer to buy Osram Licht AG (OSR.XE) for EUR38.50 per share, in an all-cash offer valuing the company at EUR3.7 billion. Shares in the German lighting company moved significantly higher.

NMC Health (NMC.LN) shares continued to fall despite reaffirming its full-year earnings guidance in a statement last week, saying business was still in line with its previous views. Shares in the health-care provider are down more than 50% in the past 12 months.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 12, 2019 07:57 ET (11:57 GMT)

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