European stocks close:

European stocks declined for the third time in four days after a report signaled that Chinese manufacturing will contract for an 11th month, adding to concern the global economic slowdown is deepening.

China’s manufacturing industry will contract in September, according to the preliminary reading of a purchasing managers’ index released today by HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics. The result of 47.8 compared with a final 47.6 last month. A reading above 50 indicates expansion.

A composite index for services and manufacturing activity in the euro area fell in September more than economists had projected. The PMI slipped to 45.9, its lowest since June 2009, from 46.3 last month.

National benchmark indexes declined in 12 of the 18 western-European markets. Germany’s DAX slid less than 0.1 percent, while the U.K.’s FTSE 100 and France’s CAC 40 each dropped 0.6 percent.

BHP Billiton Ltd. and Anglo American Plc declined 2.3 percent to 1,954.5 pence and 4.4 percent to 1,944 pence, respectively, contributing the most to a retreat by a gauge of mining companies following the Chinese manufacturing report.

Vedanta Resources Plc, India’s largest copper producer, fell 2.4 percent to 1,054 pence. Evraz Plc, the mining company and steelmaker partly owned by billionaire Roman Abramovich, slumped 6 percent to 260.8 pence.

Daimler retreated 2 percent to 39.23 euros as the world’s third-largest luxury vehicle maker said earnings from its car division will drop in the second half of 2012. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the biggest manufacturer of luxury cars, lost 2.9 percent to 59.44 euros.