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European stocks closed broadly lower on Monday, weighed down by concerns about a surge in coronavirus<\/span> infections in several countries and amid caution ahead of U.S. earnings season, and release of inflation and retail sales data from the world’s largest economy<\/span>.<\/p>\n In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people to continue to “behave responsibly” as non-essential shops, restaurants, pubs and gyms are reopening today in the latest stage of the coronavirus lockdown easing in the country.<\/p>\n The Dutch government announced plans to extend night curfew and other restrictions until April 28. Germany is reportedly looking to introduce a bill that would give national government power to impose restrictions in states with high infection rates.<\/p>\n Markets also reacted to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s reiteration on Sunday that the central bank wants to see inflation rise above its 2% target for an extended period before the monetary policy committee moves to raise interest rates.<\/p>\n The pan European Stoxx 600 slid 0.46%. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 ended 0.39% down, Switzerland’s SMI fell 0.51%, while Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 both ended lower by 0.13%.<\/p>\n Among other markets<\/span> in Europe, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Turkey ended weak.<\/p>\n Czech Republic, Greece, Poland and Russia closed higher, while Austria and Iceland settled flat.<\/p>\n In the French market, Veolia rallied nearly 10% and Suez gained almost 8% after companies announced a merger deal that values Suez at 20.50 euro per share.<\/p>\n Sanofi shares moved higher after the company said it will invest 400 million euros over next five years to build a vaccine production site in Singapore. It expects the project will create up to 200 local jobs.<\/p>\n In the UK market, Rolls-Royce Holdings, RightMove, Taylor Wimpey, Kingfisher, Next, Ocado, B&M and Pesimmon lost 2 to 3.3%.<\/p>\n In Germany, Lufthansa, MTU Aero Engines, Infineon Technologies and Merck ended notably lower, while Daimler, BMW, E.ON, Covestro, Deutsche Post and HeidelbergCement posted solid gains.<\/p>\n Lloyds Banking, Just Eat Takeaway, Admiral Group, United Utilities, Coca-Cola and BP ended with strong gains.<\/p>\n On the economic front, February retail sales data for the Eurozone was down 2.9% year-over-year, while consensus was down 5.4%. On a month-over-month basis, February retail sales grew 3% versus 5.2% drop in January.<\/p>\n Further, data from Statistics Denmark showed that Denmark’s consumer price index rose 1% year-on-year in March, following a 0.6% increase in February. Meanwhile, Denmark’s industrial production dropped in February.<\/p>\n Turkey’s jobless rate increased in February to 14.1% from 13.4% in January. Data from Statistics Finland showed that Finland’s current account surplus increased in February. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n Market Analysis<\/p>\n<\/div>\n