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European stocks were little changed, with the Stoxx Europe 600 Index posting a second weekly drop, as investors awaited next week’s Federal Reserve meeting, and as gains in AstraZeneca Plc offset PSA Peugeot Citroen’s slide.

The Stoxx 600 fell 0.2 percent to 309.75 at the close of trading. The regional benchmark has retreated 2.1 percent this week as U.S. economic data fueled speculation the Fed could slow the pace of bond buying sooner than forecast.

About 34 percent of economists surveyed on Dec. 6 by Bloomberg predicted that the U.S. central bank may reduce its $85 billion of monthly bond purchases at its Dec. 17-18 meeting, up from 17 percent in a Nov. 8 poll.

National benchmark indexes declined in 12 of the 18 western-European markets today. France’s CAC 40 lost 0.2 percent, Germany’s DAX slipped 0.1 percent and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 dropped 0.1 percent.

AstraZeneca Plc gained 1.8 percent to 3,518.5 pence. The benefits of the new diabetes drug outweigh a potential higher risk of bladder cancer and liver toxicity, an advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration said. The FDA is expected to decide by Jan. 11 whether to approve the treatment, known as dapagliflozin.

ARM Holdings Plc climbed 3 percent to 1,001 pence. The U.K. chip designer announced the acquisition of Geomerics, a provider of lighting technology for the gaming and entertainment industry, without giving financial details.

Home Retail Group Plc added 2.2 percent to 189.7 pence. Deutsche Bank AG raised the owner of the Argos chain to buy from hold, citing a “more buoyant consumer atmosphere.”

Peugeot declined 12 percent to 9.34 euros. General Motors, the U.S. automaker that acquired a stake in Peugeot last year, is selling its entire 7 percent holding -- 24.8 million shares - - through a private placement to institutional investors. GM is offering the shares to money managers for 10 euros to 10.25 euros apiece, according to a person with knowledge of the transaction who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly.

RSA Insurance plunged 7.2 percent to 92.5 pence, its lowest price in more than eight years. The London-based insurer added an additional 130 million pounds ($212 million) to its Irish reserves and forecast a further reduction in 2013 earnings. Chairman Martin Scicluna will lead the company until a new CEO is appointed.

Delta Lloyd NV dropped 3 percent to 17.14 euros. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. cut its rating on the biggest Dutch provider of group life insurance to neutral from buy, citing the stock’s rally. The shares have gained 39 percent this year, compared with the Stoxx Insurance 600 Index’s 20 percent increase.

U.S. stock-index futures advanced, as the House of Representatives passed the first bipartisan federal budget in four years.

Global markets:

Nikkei 15,403.11 +61.29 +0.40%

Hang Seng 23,245.96 +27.84 +0.12%

Shanghai Composite 2,196.07 -6.72 -0.31%

FTSE 6,443.41 -1.84 -0.03%

CAC 4,072.83 +3.71 +0.09%

DAX 9,004.46 -12.54 -0.14%

Crude oil $96.48 (-1.05%).

Gold $1231.50 (+0.54%).

European stocks were little changed, heading for a second weekly drop, before next week’s Federal Reserve meeting, with gains in AstraZeneca Plc (AZN) offsetting PSA Peugeot Citroen’s slide. U.S. stock-index futures rose, while Asian shares fell.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index added 0.2 percent to 310.87 at 10:54 a.m. in London. The regional benchmark has retreated 1.8 percent so far this week as U.S. economic data fueled speculation the Fed could slow the pace of additional stimulus sooner than forecast.

“The debate about the beginning of the Fed tapering at its Dec. 17-18 meeting hangs over markets like the sword of Damocles,” said Martin Schlatter, a fund manager at Swiss Rock Asset Management AG in Zurich, which oversees about $1 billion. “We don’t expect any actions yet. Therefore we believe the current weakness should be a buying opportunity.”

AstraZeneca Plc gained 2.5 percent to 3,544.5 pence, its highest price since May 28. The benefits of the new diabetes drug outweigh a potential higher risk of bladder cancer and liver toxicity, an advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration said. The FDA is expected to decide by Jan. 11 whether to approve the treatment, known as dapagliflozin.

ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) climbed 5.5 percent to 1,025 pence. The U.K. chip designer announced the acquisition of Geomerics, a provider of lighting technology for the gaming and entertainment industry, without giving financial details.

Home Retail Group Plc (HOME) gained 2.3 percent to 189.8 pence. Deutsche Bank AG raised the owner of the Argos chain to buy from hold, citing a “more buoyant consumer atmosphere.”

Peugeot (UG) declined 9.8 percent to 9.58 euros. General Motors, the U.S. automaker that acquired a stake in Peugeot last year, is selling its entire 7 percent holding -- 24.8 million shares - - through a private placement to institutional investors. GM is offering the shares to money managers for 10 euros to 10.25 euros apiece, according to a person with knowledge of the transaction who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly.

Delta Lloyd NV (DL) dropped 1.7 percent to 17.36 euros. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. cut its rating on the biggest Dutch provider of group life insurance to neutral from buy, citing the stock’s rally. The shares have gained 41 percent this year, compared with the Stoxx Insurance 600 Index’s 20 percent increase.

FTSE 100 6,458.14 +12.89 +0.20%

CAC 40 4,084.2 +15.08 +0.37%

DAX 9,043.19 +26.19 +0.29%

Asian stocks fell, with the regional benchmark index extending its second weekly loss, as improving U.S. economic data boosted bets the Federal Reserve will reduce stimulus as early as next week.

Nikkei 225 15,403.11 +61.29 +0.40%

Hang Seng 23,273.51 +55.39 +0.24%

S&P/ASX 200 5,098.43 +35.91 +0.71%

Shanghai Composite 2,196.07 -6.72 -0.31%

Zhaojin Mining Industry Co., China’s second-largest gold producer, declined 2.3 percent in Hong Kong as the precious metal traded near a five-month low.

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. lost 1.7 percent after the Japanese government said it plans to raise 153.3 billion yen ($1.5 billion) by selling shares in the company.

Toyota Motor Corp., Asia’s largest largest carmaker, gained 0.8 percent as the yen weakened against the dollar to the lowest since 2008, boosting the earnings outlook for Japanese exporters.