European shares slip as bond yields weigh, French elections awaited

By Shashwat Chauhan, Jesus Calero and Shristi Achar A

(Reuters) -European shares slipped on Wednesday as government bond yields rose on concerns about persistent global price pressures ahead of a crucial U.S. inflation report, with investor focus also on French elections at the weekend.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index reversed early gains to close nearly 0.6% lower, pressured by a rise in bond yields across the euro zone.

The yield on the benchmark German 10-year Bund was last at 2.452%. [GVD/EUR]

Reports showing a rise in inflation in Australia and Canada have added to market jitters that interest rates will stay elevated for longer than expected.

"The bond market is causing risk sentiment to fade as inflation concerns rise once more," said Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB.

"Australia now has the highest rate of inflation in the developed world and the markets are fearful that this is a sign that inflation could rise once more and derail interest rate cut hopes."

Rate-sensitive real estate share gauge was among the top drags on the benchmark index, down 1.2%, while travel and leisure stocks led sectoral declines with a 1.7% fall.

Auto stocks lost 1.3%, with Europe's largest carmaker Volkswagen slipping 1.6% after the company said it would invest up to $5 billion as part of a joint venture with electric vehicle maker Rivian.

Focus remained on a U.S. personal consumption expenditures (PCE) reading due on Friday, which could play a key role in gauging the Federal Reserve's interest rate outlook.

"Recent comments from (Fed) members suggest they want to wait and see a more consistent sustained trend in low inflation," Daniel Morris, chief market strategist at BNP Paribas Asset Management said. He added that one month's data would not imply much and the Fed may want to be past the U.S. election before taking any decisions.

Inflation data from France, Spain and Italy are also due this week. Also on tap is the first round of France's snap parliamentary election on June 30. France's benchmark CAC 40 ended 0.7% lower.

Among other stocks, Alfen clocked its worst day ever, plunging 46.7% after the Dutch energy storage specialist and EV infrastructure provider issued a profit warning.

Shares of Britain's Deliveroo rose 1.2% following a Reuters report that U.S. meal delivery group Doordash had flagged an interest in a takeover of the company last month.

(Reporting by Shashwat Chauhan and Shristi Achar A in Bengaluru and Jesus Calero in Gdansk; Additional reporting by Samuel Indyk; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips, Sohini Goswami and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)