European stocks close:

European stocks slid the most in two months as Spain prepared to present its budget and Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Charles Plosser said the third round of bond buying may fail to stimulate growth.

Acciona SA (ANA) sank 9.9 percent, leading Spanish builders lower a day before the government presents its budget for next year. Banco Santander SA (SAN), Spain’s largest lender, retreated 4.5 percent. Anglo American Plc (AAL) lost 3.7 percent after saying that it plans to reduce its production of coal.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index plunged 1.7 percent to 271.09, its largest drop since July 23.

In Spain, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has struggled to persuade people to accept the deepest austerity measures on record. Unions and protest groups, spurred by the Portuguese government’s decision to drop a planned tax increase following demonstrations, have demanded a referendum on Rajoy’s cuts.

Economy Minister Luis de Guindos will present additional measures tomorrow that the European Commission requires as part of efforts to bring down Spain’s borrowing costs. Budget Minister Cristobal Montoro will unveil the 2013 budget.

In Greece today, public- and private-sector workers will hold a 24-hour general strike.

National benchmark indexes fell in every western-European market except for Greece.

FTSE 100 5,776.22 -83.49 -1.42% CAC 40 3,429.24 -84.57 -2.41% DAX 7,288.11 -137.00 -1.85%

Acciona slumped 9.9 percent to 45.10 euros, its biggest tumble since November 2008, while Actividades de Construccion & Servicios SA, Spain’s biggest construction company, lost 5.4 percent to 16.03 euros. Obrascon Huarte Lain SA (OHL) slid 5.3 percent to 18.49 euros. Ferrovial SA (FER) declined 4.8 percent to 9.72 euros.

BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP), the world’s biggest mining company, retreated 2.4 percent to 1,908 pence. Rio Tinto Group, the third-largest, dropped 3.4 percent to 2,841 pence. Copper, lead, nickel and tin fell in

Infineon Technologies AG (IFX) slipped 3.4 percent to 4.94 euros, declining for an eighth day. Jefferies Group Inc. cut its recommendation on Europe’s second-biggest semiconductor maker to underperform from hold, meaning investors should sell the shares.

ICAP Plc (IAP) tumbled 3.3 percent to 332.5 pence. The world’s largest broker of transactions between banks predicted that fiscal first-half revenue will drop 14 percent from the previous year because of reduced activity on capital markets.

CGGVeritas (GA) decreased 1.9 percent to 24.93 euros. The company started a 414 million-euro ($532 million) rights offer to help finance its acquisition of Fugro NV’s seismic division. The largest seismic surveyor of oilfields said it will sell the new stock at 17 euros a share.

Technip SA (TEC), Europe’s second-largest oilfield-services provider, retreated 2.4 percent to 86.86

Statoil ASA (STL) dropped 2.8 percent to 149.20 kroner. Norway’s national oil company was cut to sell from buy at Nordea Bank AB.