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Jan 23 (Reuters) - European shares fell in early trading on
Thursday, hit by worries over the spread of a new flu-like virus
in China, with investors also bracing for the European Central
Bank's first policy decision of the year.
The pan-European STOXX 600 .STOXX index dropped 0.4% at
0806 GMT as the energy subsector .SXEP slipped 0.8%, tracking
a slide in oil prices on concerns that the virus outbreak may
dent fuel demand. O/R
Auto stocks .SXAP hit fresh three-month lows after U.S.
President Donald Trump threatened to impose high tariffs on
imports of cars from the European Union if the bloc doesn't
agree to a trade deal. While the ECB is expected to leave its monetary policy on
hold, the bank's president, Christine Lagarde, is set to launch
a broad review of policy that is likely to see her redefine the
central bank's main goal and how to achieve it. Among individual stocks, Apple-supplier STMicroelectronics
STM.PA gained 4.6% and was the top performer on the benchmark
index, after the chipmaker reported fourth-quarter sales and
gross margin above the mid-point of its forecast.