European stocks declined

European stocks declined as investors awaited a report that may show U.S. jobless claims rose last week, and amid concern budget wrangling in Washington will lead to a shutdown of the federal government. Asian shares rose, while U.S. index futures were little changed.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slipped 0.2 percent to 312.42 at 10:41 a.m. in London. The gauge has dropped 0.6 percent so far this week amid concern that U.S. politicians will fail to approve a federal budget for the new financial year. Standard & Poor’s 500 Index futures rose 0.2 percent today, while the MSCI Asia Pacific Index gained 0.3 percent.

Ladbrokes plunged 7.7 percent to 173.6 pence, dropping for an eighth day. The chain of bookmakers said 2013 operating profit for its digital division will be below current market expectations because of a lack of competitiveness and lower-than-planned ">Thomas Cook tumbled 6.4 percent to 145.6 pence, its biggest decline since Sept. 4. The tour operator said winter bookings started more slowly than last year across most markets due to geopolitical events and warm weather in Europe.

H&M gained 6.4 percent to 280.90 kronor. Third-quarter profit increased 22 percent to 4.43 billion kronor ($690 million) in the three months ended Aug. 31, Stockholm-based H&M said in a statement. That compares with the 4.15 billion-kronor average estimate of 16 analysts.

FTSE 100 6,538.7 -12.83 -0.20 %

CAC 40 4,174.9 -20.45 -0.49 %

DAX 8,634.03 -31.60 -0.36 %