UPDATE 2-Profit taking saps European shares in November after "memorable" gains

Published 30-11-2017, 11:59 pm
© Reuters.  UPDATE 2-Profit taking saps European shares in November after "memorable" gains
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* STOXX 600 down 0.3 pct, down 2.2 pct in November

* Banks fall after weaker than expected inflation data

* But Credit Suisse gains, NPL hopes lift Italian banks

* Tech under pressure as Apple worries hit Dialog (Recasts, adds details, closing prices)

By Danilo Masoni

MILAN, Nov 30 (Reuters) - European shares fell back on Thursday and marked their biggest monthly fall since June as profit taking kicked in after stellar gains this year.

Financial stocks weighed on the last day of November, although Credit Suisse CSGN.S rose after promising improved returns and Italian banks were supported by hopes of delays in bad loan rules.

The pan-European STOXX 600 .STOXX fell 0.3 percent on the day, and was down 2.2 percent for November, while euro zone blue chips .STOXX50E fell 0.6 percent on the day and 2.8 percent this month.

Investors have been taking profits out of European shares this month as earnings growth in the region slowed and political worries resurfaced amid Germany's difficulties to form a working coalition government.

Still, Ifigest fund manager Carlo Franchini said in spite of this month's wobble he expected markets to hold on to their gains going into year end, citing the recent strength in economic data and prospects of tax reform in the U.S.

"It's all very supportive for stock markets. Unless there is an external shock it's hard to think they could fall back," he said. "No one is going to ruin such a memorable year."

The STOXX 600 is up 7 percent so far in 2017, while the German DAX .GDAXI index has gained 13 percent and is close to its record highs and Italy's FTSE MIB .FTMIB is up 16 percent. The UK's FTSE .FTSE has lagged behind, up 2.7 percent.

On Thursday financials were the biggest drag on the STOXX 600. Shares in the world's No.1 reinsurer Munich Re MUVGn.DE fell 2.7 percent with traders citing underwhelming remarks on its outlook from its CEO, who said he did not expect "big jumps back to previous earnings levels". .SX7P also reversed earlier gains, ending down 0.7 percent, as bond yields fell following weaker-than-expected euro zone inflation data that suggested the European Central Bank will remove its massive stimulus only gradually. Suisse CSGN.S however rose 2 percent after it raised its payout ratio targets, while Italian banks .FTIT8300 added 0.2 percent on relief on news the ECB will need a few more months to complete its contested new rules on non-performing loans (NPLs). banks are seen as particularly exposed to stricter rules on NPLs because they hold nearly 30 percent of the euro zone's 915 billion euros of bad loans.

Energy stocks .SXEP rose as much as 0.7 percent after OPEC and non-OPEC crude producers agreed to extend oil output cuts until the end of 2018. The sector however pared gains to end down 0.2 percent as investors said the decision had already been priced in.

Tech stocks were another weak spot. Dialog Semiconductor DLGS.DE fell as much as 23 percent after Nikkei reported that key client Apple AAPL.O would design power chips in-house as early as 2018. globally have wobbled this week after a Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) note said the super-cycle for memory chips could be nearing a peak, and as the leaders of a dizzying tech rally that some say is reaching bubble territory.

"I'm not sure one would say it's a bubble. By and large the companies are generating either good profits or the potential for good profit growth," said Andrew Milligan, head of investment strategy at Standard Life.

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