European stocks fell early Monday after a series of downbeat corporate data made investors, already nervous about the assassination attempt on US presidential candidate Donald Trump, more cautious.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell by about 0.5% at the start of trading, according to Reuters.
Burberry shares led the losses, falling 11.4% after the British luxury group appointed former Michael Kors chief Joshua Schulman as its new chief executive, ousting Jonathan Akeroyd after two years and warning of a potential profit slump and a dividend cut.
Swatch Group shares fell 10.6% as the world's largest watchmaker reported a sharp drop in first-half sales and profits.
Personal and household goods stocks fell 1.1%, leading sector losses.
Nordea shares lost 3.1% after the Finnish bank reported second-quarter operating profit that fell short of expectations.
The Republican Party is expected to officially announce Trump's nomination for the presidency during the party's national convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, after he survived an assassination attempt that exacerbated the already sharp political divisions in the United States, while traders are studying its impact on financial markets.
Investors are now awaiting comments from European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, later today, ahead of a monetary policy meeting later in the week.
