2016.10.2604:59:00UTC+00European Stocks Edge Down as Oil Prices Fell

European stocks retreated after Asian equity markets and Wall Street both traded lower amid a decline in oil prices. The Stoxx Europe 600 index was down 0.3 percent as investors assessed earnings reports.

The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index and France's CAC 40 both slipped 0.4 percent. Spain's Santander reported that its net profits increased in the third-quarter, which sent shares higher. Nordea shares were in green territory after it said that operating profit in the third quarter was at 1.15 billion euros ($1.25 billion). Lloyds Banking Group recorded a third-quarter underlying profit of £1.9 billion ($2.31 billion) as its shares sharply fell. France's Airbus posted core earnings declining 21 percent in the third quarter, sending shares slightly lower. Novozymes reported core earnings and sales which missed analysts forecasts, its shares in the company sank by more than 11.5 percent. Gucci shares climbed by almost eight percent.