European stocks drift lower with focus on US, N.Korea

Europe's main stock markets fell on Thursday, weighed down by a softer opening on Wall Street following weaker-than-expected US jobs data and as dealers kept a wary eye on heightened tensions over North Korea.

According to the ADP National Employment Report, US private sector employment growth was weaker than expected in June. Investors are now awaiting government non-farm payrolls numbers data on Friday.

The dollar was little moved after minutes of the Federal Reserve's June meeting indicated interest rates would rise again this year as expected but provided no clarity on the bank's plan to wind down its multi-trillion-dollar investment holdings.

Ahead of the jobs data, Asian stock markets mostly sank Thursday with equity traders on edge after North Korea's latest missile test and warnings from the US it would use force to deal with the nuclear-armed state.

US President Donald Trump meanwhile lashed out Thursday at North Korea's military sabre-rattling, calling on the global community to ensure there are "consequences" for Pyongyang's belligerence and warning that he is considering a "severe" response.

"I call on all nations to confront this global threat and publicly demonstrate to North Korea that there are consequences for their very, very bad behaviour," Trump said during a visit to Warsaw.

"I have pretty severe things that we're thinking about," Trump said, but added: "That doesn't mean that we'll do them."

Investor sentiment was dented also by oil prices sliding on Wednesday, traders said.

Crude fell around four percent, before Thursday's rebound, on renewed concerns about a global supply glut that overshadowed data pointing to a drop in US stockpiles.

Investors are worried that an output cut agreed by OPEC and Russia will not be enough to offset rising production from the US and other nations including Libya and Nigeria.

- Key figures around 1345 GMT -

New York - DOW: DOWN 0.4 percent at 21,381.81 points

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.5 percent at 7,331.07

Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 1.0 percent at 12,332.47

Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 1.0 percent at 5,128.86

EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.9 percent at 3,447.52

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.4 percent at 19,994.06 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 0.2 percent at 25,465.22 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.2 percent at 3,212.44 (close)

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1393 from $1.1348

Pound/dollar: STEADY at $1.2929

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 113.06 yen from 113.30 yen

Oil - Brent North Sea: UP 76 cents $48.55 per barrel

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: UP 87 cents at $46.00

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Source: AFP