European stocks fell on Thursday and Italian bonds sold off sharply after Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi offered his resignation to the president, in a move that will raise the prospect of snap elections as soon as early October.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Russia resumed natural gas supplies to Germany, helping to ease worries about fallout on the economy<\/span>.<\/p>\n The euro wilted as investors braced for the interest-rate decision from the European Central bank. <\/p>\n The central bank is set to raise interest rates for the first time in 11 years and provide guidance on the proposed anti-fragmentation tool. <\/p>\n The pan European Stoxx 600 slipped 0.2 percent to 421.63 after closing 0.2 percent lower on Wednesday.<\/p>\n The German DAX fell 0.7 percent, France’s CAC 40 eased 0.1 percent and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 was down 0.4 percent. <\/p>\n Swedish home appliance manufacturer Electrolux plunged nearly 8 percent after its second-quarter profit missed expectations. <\/p>\n Finnish telecom equipment maker Nokia surged 6.5 percent after reporting better-than-expected earnings for the second quarter and backing its FY22 outlook.<\/p>\n British online trading platform IG Group soared 4 percent on share buyback news.<\/p>\n Online grocer Ocado slumped 4 percent after reporting a wider loss in its first-half.<\/p>\n Drinks maker Britvic gained 1 percent after reporting a jump in revenues across its markets<\/span>.<\/p>\n Marks & Spencer lost 1.8 percent. The retailer said its finance and strategy chief Eoin Tonge would leave the company to take up a role at Associated British Foods.<\/p>\n Getlink shares rose 1 percent in Paris. The railway company reported first-half consolidated net result of 52 million euros, compared to last year’s restated loss of 124 million euros.<\/p>\n Sartorius Stedim Biotech jumped 6 percent. The company confirmed its FY22 outlook after reporting a 77 percent surge in first-half profit.<\/p>\n