Top European shares fell to their lowest level in almost a month on Thursday, hit by a jump in yields in the wake of the European Central Bank’s insistence there was no need to adjust monetary policy in the face of volatility.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index was down 1.8 per cent at 0840 GMT, hitting its lowest level since May 7 and putting it on course for its lowest closing level since February.
The VSTOXX gauge of European stock-market volatility rose to hit its highest level in almost a month.