European stock close

European stocks dropped, following their biggest annual advance since 2009, as utilities declined, while a report showed U.S. manufacturing slowed last month.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slipped 0.7 percent to 325.98 at 4:30 p.m. in London, their largest decline in two weeks. Global equities soared by $9.6 trillion in 2013 as central-bank bond buying helped the U.S. economy gain momentum, while the euro area emerged from recession.

In the U.S., the Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing index slipped to 57 in December from 57.3 in November, which was its highest level in more than two years. Figures greater than 50 mean that activity expanded.

Final readings today confirmed that manufacturing in the euro zone expanded last month at the fastest pace since May 2011, while output in Germany, the currency bloc’s largest economy, expanded for a sixth consecutive month. French manufacturing contracted for a 22nd consecutive month.

National benchmark indexes fell in 12 of the 17 western-European markets that opened today.

FTSE 100 6,717.91 -31.18 -0.46% CAC 40 4,227.28 -68.67 -1.60% DAX 9,400.04 -152.12 -1.59%  

RWE slipped 3.5 percent to 25.68 euros after Handelsblatt reported that the German utility will seek approval at its annual general meeting on April 16 to raise capital by as much as 10 percent. The newspaper cited unidentified people close to the company’s supervisory board. RWE spokesman Michael Murphy told Bloomberg News that the utility does not plan a capital increase for the forseeable future.

CGG lost 2.9 percent to 12.21 euros as UBS lowered its rating on the stock to neutral from buy and reduced its estimate for 2013 earnings before interest and taxes to $392 million from $504 million. UBS analyst Caroline Hickson said the company’s presentation to investors and analysts in December failed to reassure investors because of weaker-than-expected long-term targets and little guidance for 2014.

Fiat rallied 16 percent to 6.92 euros. The Italian carmaker said it will pay a United Auto Workers retiree health-care trust $1.75 billion in cash for the stake when the deal closes, which Fiat expects by Jan. 20. Chrysler will contribute $1.9 billion through a special dividend, as well as paying the trust $700 million in four annual installments, according to a statement.

Exor SpA, which owns a 30 percent stake in Fiat, advanced 4.5 percent to 30.20 euros, the shares’ biggest increase in almost six months.

Polymetal International Plc and Fresnillo Plc, which own silver and gold mines, added 1.7 percent to 584.5 pence and 1.3 percent to 755 pence, respectively. Both precious metals rebounded today after completing their worst year since 1981. Randgold Resources Ltd. gained 3.8 percent to 3,934 pence, following its largest annual decline since 1998.