European markets decline due to losses of basic resources’ ‎shares

European stocks fell on Wednesday, affected by a decline in shares of basic resource companies, while investors pondered corporate profits and awaited key data on inflation in the United States in search of clues on the path of interest rates.

According to Reuters, the European Stoxx 600 index fell 0.2% by 8:15 GMT.

Shares of basic resources companies fell 0.5 percent, leading the index’s losses, tracking the prices of basic and precious metals, with investors remaining cautious ahead of key inflation data in the United States scheduled to be released on Thursday.

On the data front, the core inflation rate in Norway fell less than expected in December, which may help the central bank in the scheduled easing of monetary policy.

The shares of the Italian company David Campari fell 5.4% to the bottom of the STOXX 600 index after the spirits group completed a private offering of shares and bonds worth 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) to finance the acquisition of the French company Courvoisier.