The euro fell to a two-month low against the dollar and a 12-month low against the pound after German and eurozone business activity slumped more than expected in August, leading to concerns about the state of the European economy and potential pauses in tightening measures by the European Central Bank, while the dollar rose to a two-month peak amid positive U.S. economic data.
Weak European data caused the euro to decline and led to a rise in bond and share markets, while investors awaited Nvidia's results to assess the viability of the tech sector's high valuations.
Stocks fell on Thursday as investors retreated ahead of the Federal Reserve's Jackson Hole symposium, with European stocks dropping and technology stocks giving up earlier gains, while Walt Disney shares tumbled, and Treasury yields increased on strong economic data and concerns about inflation.
European bonds and stocks fell as inflation data suggested that inflation in the euro region may not be fully subsiding, while utilities led the decline in the Stoxx Europe 600 and the German and Spanish inflation data complicated the outlook for European policy makers.
European stock markets weakened on Thursday due to signs of slowing growth in Europe and China, as well as concerns about future Federal Reserve tightening. German industrial production fell more than expected, adding to the struggles of the eurozone's largest economy. China's exports and imports also fell in August, indicating continued pressure on its manufacturing sector. Additionally, stronger-than-expected US inflation data raised concerns about sticky inflation. Oil prices fell as signs of slowing Chinese growth overshadowed a draw in US inventories.