European Stocks Slide Most in Six Weeks on Recovery Concerns

Losses in European stocks worsened after Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said that the U.S. central bank should raise interest rates.

Bullard’s comments came in a day that started in the red for the region’s equities amid disappointing earnings announcements, putting into question whether the global economy is strong enough to withstand higher rates. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index inched lower in the final hours of trading, closing down 1.6 percent. The gauge briefly reversed its slide in the morning, after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said risks to the economy are visible, spurring speculation that he will add to stimulus measures.