European stocks close:

European (SXXP) stocks declined to a three- week low, snapping two days of gains, as the Spanish region of Catalonia asked for a bailout from the central government and Japan lowered an assessment of its economy.

G4S Plc (GFS) dropped 2 percent after the security company said that first-half profit slumped 73 percent. Banco Santander SA (SAN) slipped. Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWS) surged 19 percent after saying it has started talks with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. over possible cooperation.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slid 0.7 percent to 267.32 at the close, its lowest level since Aug. 6.

Spain’s Catalonia region said it will ask for a 5 billion- euro ($6.3 billion) loan from the country’s central government. The Spanish cabinet approved a fund of as much as 18 billion euros on July 13 to help the most indebted regional governments manage their financial deficits.

Japan’s government downgraded its view on personal consumption, housebuilding, exports, imports and industrial output in the world’s third-largest economy. It also lowered its assessment of the global economy.

Of the 314 companies listed on the Stoxx 600 that have reported first-half net income, 183 have exceeded analysts’ estimates, while 125 have missed them, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

National benchmark indexes retreated in every western- European market today, except for Iceland and Portugal.

FTSE 100 5,775.71 -0.89 -0.02% CAC 40 3,431.55 -31.28 -0.90% DAX 7,002.68 -44.77 -0.64%

G4S retreated 2 percent to 261 pence. Net income fell to 29 million pounds ($46 million) from 108 million pounds a year earlier after failing to fulfill a staffing contract for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Spanish lenders dragged a gauge of European banks lower. Santander slipped 0.8 percent to 5.57 euros. Banco de Sabadell SA (SAB) fell 0.8 percent to 2.10 euros, while Bankia SA (BKIA), which was nationalized earlier this year, lost 4.2 percent to 1.17 euros.

Vestas jumped 19 percent to 40.19 kroner, its highest price in three months. Speculation that the world’s largest turbine maker may be a bid target rose after the Sunday Times said on July 1 that the company may put itself up for sale.

Ipsen SA (IPN) gained 5 percent to 19.49 euros after reporting first-half sales of 630 million euros, exceeding the average analyst estimate of 607 million euros.

CFAO SA (CFAO) advanced 1.5 percent to 37.45 euros after Toyota Tsusho Corp. offered to buy 70 percent of the French company’s shares for 1.62 billion euros. Toyota Tsusho, the trading arm of Japan’s largest carmaker, already owns 30 percent of CFAO.