London—World stocks slipped on Monday, with weak business activity data and an inconclusive election result in Spain weighing on sentiment in Europe ahead of a central bank-packed week for markets.
German business activity contracted in July, increasing the likelihood of a recession in the second half of the year, the German Flash Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) showed.
HCOB’s flash Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the eurozone, seen as a good gauge of overall economic health, dropped to an eight-month low of 48.9 in July from June’s 49.9.
This together with news that no clear winner had emerged from Spain’s snap election on Sunday added to a sombre mood as European markets opened….