World shares declined Thursday as investors watched for signs of progress on a deal to avert a default on U.S. government debt.
U.S. futures were mixed and oil declined.
Germany slipped into recession as its economy contracted 0.3 percent in the first quarter of the year. The data from the Federal Statistical Office showed a second quarter of contraction, which is one definition of recession.
The figures were a blow to the German government, which last month boldly doubled its growth forecast for this year after a feared winter energy crunch failed to materialize.
In Frankfurt, the DAX lost 0.5 percent to 15,767.10 while the CAC 40 in Paris slipped 0.3 percent to 7,229.45. Britain’s FTSE gave up 0.3 percent to 7,601.55….