European Stocks Drop for Third Day, Erasing Gains in Last Hour

European stocks erased gains in the final hour of trading, falling to an almost three-week low.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index retreated 0.7 percent to 331.61 at the close of trading in London after rising as much as 0.6 percent amid a rebound in energy shares. The measure dropped as much as 0.9 percent earlier, as data showed a gauge of euro-area services and manufacturing fell short of a preliminary reading.