By Shashwat Chauhan and Shristi Achar A
(Reuters) -European equities ended lower on Tuesday as investors refrained from making big bets ahead of the European Central Bank's policy meeting later this week, while advancing mining stocks helped limit losses.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index ended 0.3% lower, with utilities and rate-sensitive real estate stocks among top losers, down 0.8% and 1.3% respectively, while heavyweight healthcare stocks shed 0.9%.
On the bright side, base and precious metal miners added 2.0% as most base metal prices advanced, while copper prices were supported by hopes that top metals consumer China will unleash more stimulus to boost its economy. [MET/L]
China-exposed luxury firms including LVMH, Kering (EPA:PRTP) and Richemont were up between 1.1% and 1.7%.
Leading up to the ECB's rate verdict, figures released on Tuesday showed euro zone consumer confidence fell by 1.0 point in January from the December number.
"We doubt the decline is the start of a new trend and expect a more sustained rebound soon, now that inflation of frequent-out-of-pocket purchases is declining sharply," said Melanie Debono, senior Europe economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.
While a pause in interest rate hikes is nearly priced in for the upcoming ECB meeting, traders anticipate cuts of around 130 basis points this year, with a near 97% chance of the first reduction in June. [0#ECBWATCH].
Spanish stocks lagged regional peers, falling 1.1%, bogged down by a 1.9% fall in Iberdrola (BME:IBE) as Barclays (LON:BARC) downgraded the utility's stock to "equal-weight" from "overweight".
As the earnings season picked up pace across the continent, LSEG I/B/E/S data showed fourth quarter earnings for STOXX 600 companies are expected to decline 8.8% from Q4 2022 versus a 7.1% drop expected last week.
Computer peripherals maker Logitech raised its full year sales and profit guidance. Its shares, however, fell 8.7% as investors took profits after the stock on Monday hit its highest level since October 2021.
Swatch slipped 4.6% after the world's biggest watchmaker missed market estimates for its 2023 results.
Allfunds jumped 8.7% after Reuters reported that Swiss stock market operator SIX Group is considering a bid for the fund distribution company.
Dutch tech investor Prosus advanced 5.4% after checks by Reuters showed China's gaming regulator has taken down draft rules to control spending in video games from its website.
HelloFresh (OTC:HLFFF) jumped 12% after Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) upgraded the German meal-kit delivery firm to "overweight" from "equal-weight".
Volkswagen (ETR:VOWG_p) added 5.4% after a call with analysts fuelled bets that the German car maker might unveil fourth-quarter sales above current market expectations when it discloses results in March.