European Stocks Lower amid Downbeat China Data

European stock markets opened lower on Thursday, with banks leading the decliners and miners also off after a sharp fall in Chinese manufacturing activity.

The Stoxx Europe 600 index (XX:SXXP) -1.14% fell 0.3% to 267.86, with Randgold Resources Ltd (UK:RRS) -13.34% off 12%, and heavyweights such as Spain’s Banco Santander SA (ES:SAN) -2.42% (STD) -3.43% down 1.4%.

Shares of Lanxess AG (DE:LXS) +9.02% jumped 9% after an upbeat outlook for 2012.

The French CAC 40 index (FR:PX1) -1.52% fell 0.5% to 3,509.49, led by Societe Generale SA ( FR:GLE) -2.42% down 1.7% and BNP Paribas SA (FR:BNP) -1.66% down 1.1%.

The German DAX 30 index (DX:DAX) -1.66% fell 0.3% to 7,052.36, with a nearly 1% fall for Bayer AG (DE:BAYN) -2.00%. The FTSE 100 index (UK:UKX) -1.03% fell 0.3% to 5,872.02, with Kingfisher PLC (UK:KGF) -1.27% and Next PLC (UK:NXT) -0.86% off over 1% each after the retailers released results.