European Stocks Fall to Six-Week Low on Debt Concern, Korea

European stocks fell to a six-week low, extending a global selloff, as concern escalated that the region’s debt crisis will spread and North Korea fired artillery shells into South Korea.

Bank of Ireland Plc plunged 25 percent as Prime Minister Brian Cowen said he will seek national elections early next year. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA dropped 3.9 percent as the cost of insuring Spanish and Portuguese subordinated bank bonds surged. Antofagasta Plc lost 4.2 percent as metals fell.