In a mixed session, which has seen Asian stocks ex-Japan broadly higher, the European Stoxx 600 index dropped as much as 0.6% after data Markit PMI data signalled euro-area economy grew in July at its slowest pace in six months while carmakers extended declines on continued concern about antitrust collusion in the industry. Germany’s DAX Index was hardest-hit euro-area benchmark, down as much as 0.8%. Autos continued to be the worst-performing sector on the Stoxx Europe 600 after EU and German regulators said they are studying possible collusion among German automakers. Der Spiegel magazine reported on Friday that BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen may have cooperated for decades on technology. 

Concerns have risen that with the Euro trading near its strongest level in 2 years and appreciating 11% against the USD YTD, it may weigh on exporters’ earnings; 1.20 on the EUR/USD is being seen a key barrier beyond which European earnings will suffer. As a result, the euro headed for its first decline in three days as data showed the region’s economy cooling at the start of a week packed with earnings results and a Federal Reserve rate decision. Stocks were dragged down for a second day by carmakers amid a collusion probe.

The common currency halted the advance that saw it hit a two-year high after a composite Purchasing Managers’ Index fell in July to a six-month low. Automakers extended a slump as European Union and German authorities said they are studying possible collusion among German producers. Crude fluctuated as an OPEC committee gathers to discuss the progress of supply cuts. Bonds were mixed.

Europe’s PMI was closely scrutinized after both German and Eurozone manufacturing missed expectations:

Meanwhile, in a week heavy on political and monetary events, with several key Trump-related hearings later in the week, as well as the Fed’s July decision on deck, earnings from industry bellwethers from Amazon.com Inc. to GlaxoSmithKline Plc are set to provide the latest tests for a bull market that’s propelled the value of global equities to $78 trillion. According to Bloomberg, euro-area manufacturing figures indicate that gross domestic product is expanding at a 0.6 percent quarterly pace, compared with 0.7 percent in the second three months of the year, adding further doubts about the sustainability of the stock rally at a time when the strong euro is weighing on exporters.

In Asia, the MSCI Asia Pacific Index edged higher after rallying over the past two weeks to the highest level in more than 10 years. Japan’s Topix index slid 0.5 percent, after dropping as much as 1 percent earlier in the day. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index lost 0.6 percent.The Shanghai Composite Index advanced 0.4 percent while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was 0.5 percent higher. India’s Sensex climbed 0.6 percent to a record. The Australian dollar rose 0.6 percent, trading above 79 U.S. cents ahead of a speech by Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Philip Lowe on Wednesday.

The Dollar slumped to a five-week low against the yen on concern a widening probe into possible ties between Russia and U.S. President Donald Trump’s election campaign may derail his growth agenda. Lower U.S. Treasury yields and oil prices spur leveraged selling in the greenback ahead of Jared Kushner’s closed-door meeting with the Senate Intelligence Committee on Monday, according to an Asia-based foreign-exchange trader quoted by Bloomberg. As noted over the weekend, hedge funds and other large speculators were the most bearish on the dollar in more than four years as the Federal Reserve meets this week

As noted earlier, the Polish zloty jumped the most against the euro since May after Poland’s President Andrzey Duda said he’d veto part of an overhaul of the judiciary that’s brought tens of thousands of protesters into the streets across the eastern European nation

In rates, the German government bond yields edged lower after euro zone PMI data also came in below forecasts. The 10-year yield – the benchmark for euro zone borrowing costs – fell to 0.49 percent, down 0.4 basis points and its lowest in more than a week. Yields fell on Friday as the strong euro led investors to question the timing of when the ECB would begin to withdraw its stimulus.

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