Sharecast - The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was down 0.54% at 0830 BST with all major regional bourses lower. The UK’s FTSE 100 continued to trade below 7,900, down 0.51%.
The British government borrowed £21.5bn alone in March, up £16.3bn year-on-year for its second-highest March reading since records began in 1993.
Public sector net debt at the end of March was £2.53 trln or around 99.6% of GDP with a debt-to-GDP ratio at levels last seen in the early 1960s.
Corporate earnings were front and centre with a slew of results and updates published across the continent.
Swiss pharma company Idorsia (SIX:IDIA) slumped by almost a fifth as it reported weaker first-quarter earnings.
Compatriot bank UBS (SIX:UBSG) fell after posting a 52% net profit decline, while Spanish rival Santander (BME:SAN) was also lower despite net profit edging ahead.
Consumer goods giant Nestle (SIX:NESN) made gains after narrowly beating sales estimates but warning of a 0.5% volume decline. The company said it had hiked prices by 9.8% in the quarter.
Primark owner AB Foods (LON:ABF) fell as it predicted flat profits this year as consumers tightened their belts amid the cost of living crisis.
Whitbread (LON:WTB) surged as its Premier Inn hotel chain reported a sharp rise in bookings as COVID restrictions were finally lifted.
Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com