European equities fall

On Wednesday European equities fell, weighed down by financial shares as third-quarter earnings season continued. The dollar weakened and Treasury yields edged lower amid concern about the progress of U.S. tax reforms and as President Donald Trump arrived in China on a state visit.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index declined, with lenders underperforming following disappointing results from Credit Agricole SA. The euro strengthened and core government bonds were little changed. Bond yields in the periphery pared some of Tuesday’s drop. Sterling fell as tensions in the U.K. government continue to spill over. West Texas crude dropped for a second day on signs U.S. crude stockpiles may have declined less than expected.

Investor focus has returned to geopolitics this week as Trump continued his tour of Asia with a central mission of rallying the world to stand up to the North Korean threat. Calling out by name Russia and China, he said Wednesday that all responsible nations must join forces to deny Kim Jong Un’s regime any form of support. The U.S. president is also expected to discuss trade with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index dipped 0.2 percent as of 11:25 a.m. London time, the lowest in more than a week. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index increased less than 0.05 percent. Germany’s DAX Index decreased 0.1 percent to the lowest in more than a week. Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 0.1 percent. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index jumped 0.2 percent to the highest in about 10 years. The MSCI Emerging Market Index sank 0.1 percent. Futures on the S&P 500 Index declined less than 0.05 percent to 2,585.75.

West Texas Intermediate crude declined 0.3 percent to $57.01 a barrel. Gold rose 0.4 percent to $1,280.66 an ounce. Copper dipped 0.2 percent to $3.08 a pound, the lowest in more than four weeks.