European Shares Fall as Apple Guidance Cut Whipsaws Tech Stocks

(Bloomberg) -- European shares fell as Apple Inc.’s cut to its sales forecast reinforced concerns over global growth and pummeled technology shares.

The Stoxx Europe 600 dropped 0.8 percent as of 8:05 a.m. in London, led by the technology sector. Apple supplier ams AG lost 12 percent, while Dialog Semiconductor Plc slid nearly 7 percent.

Apple cut its first-quarter guidance for the first time in almost two decades, citing a slowdown in China and fewer upgrades to iPhone models. The move echoed growing worries that the global economy is cooling, after data on Wednesday showed slowing manufacturing activity in China and several euro-zone countries.

The Apple news “adds fuel to the fire of concerns about slowing global growth and/or a trade war,” Mike van Dulken and Artjom Hatsaturjants, analysts at Accendo Markets, wrote in a note. “After Tesla announced price cuts, that’s two New Year kicks for the tech sector.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Justina Lee in London at jlee1489@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Blaise Robinson at brobinson58@bloomberg.net, Jon Menon

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