European stock markets slip on growth fears

Italian shares fell by almost three percent on media reports the government was about to cut its growth forecast.
Investors also had an eye on mixed Chinese data showing a rise in exports but a sharp fall in imports.
Figures released on Friday by the US Labour Department showed the smallest growth in employment in five months.
The US economy added 120 000 jobs during March, less than the 200 000 widely predicted by analysts.

The figures raised fears about the strength of the recovery in the US economy.
“Opening losses for European stocks markets this morning are suggestive of the heavy, negative overhang from last Friday’s disappointing US payrolls report,” said Jane Foley at Rabobank International.

Yesterday, official data released by China also raised questions about the strength of the world’s second-largest economy.
Exports in March grew by 8.9 percent from a year earlier, indicating that global demand may be picking up.
However, imports grew by 5.3 percent, down from a 39.6 percent jump last month, raising fears about slowing domestic demand.

The world’s second-largest exporter, Germany, also released figures yesterday showing an increase in exports.
Exports rose by 1.6 percent in February from a month earlier, and by 8.6 percent year-on-year. Imports grew by 3.9 on the month, and by 6.1 percent on the year.

German firms had the most success in markets outside the eurozone, where they sold 13.4 percent more than a year earlier.
Meanwhile, the interest rate on Spanish bonds traded in the secondary market continued to rise.

The yield on 10-year bonds hit 5.84 percent, up from 5.74 percent on Monday, indicating that investors are getting increasingly concerned about Spain’s ability to repay its debts.

Spain has introduced a raft of tough austerity measures in recent weeks, partly in an attempt to calm investors’ nerves and bring yields down.
Yields are now at their highest level since the beginning of this year, but are still below the seven percent considered by markets to be unsustainable. — BBC.