European Stocks Fall as London Index Tracks a Weekly Loss Above 1.5%

European stocks fell Friday as sluggish business activity and geopolitical concerns pressured regional benchmarks, with London's main index on track for a weekly decline exceeding 1.5%.

At 4:34 a.m. ET (08:34 UTC), London's main index was down 0.32%. Germany's DAX fell 0.54%, reaching a two-week low and extending losses from the previous session.

UK retail sales increased 0.8% from a year earlier in September, below expectations. Earlier UK business activity readings pointed to quarterly economic growth of about 0.1%, alongside rising input-price inflation.