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Oct 18 (Reuters) - European shares fell on Friday, dragged
down by auto stocks after Renault's sales warning while a sharp
contraction in China's economy exacerbated worries about slowing
global growth.
The pan-European STOXX 600 .STOXX slipped 0.2% at 0705
GMT, as a volatile week where trading was dominated by Brexit
headlines, was set to end fairly unchanged.
Shares of automobiles and parts markers .SXAP shed 2%
after France's Renault RENA.PA cut its full-year revenue and
profit forecast amid a broad-based slump in auto
sales. Renault shares slumped 10%, set for their worst day in more
than three years and pulled Paris-listed stocks .FCHI down
0.6%.
Adding to auto stocks' pain was Sweden's truckmaker AB Volvo
VOLVb.ST forecasting slumping market demand on both sides of
the North Atlantic next year. Uncertainty over whether British Prime Minister Boris
Johnson would be able to win approval of the parliament for a
new Brexit deal on Saturday also weighed on sentiment.