European Markets Mixed; Shell Falls on Fourth-Quarter Earnings Report

European stock indices are mixed on Thursday after an Asian selloff as investors took fright at the Fed’s upbeat view of the U.S. economy. The plight of oil companies continues to worry shareholders, who mark Royal Dutch Shell down sharply on disappointing fourth-quarter earnings and its hint that it will slow the pace of share buybacks. Smaller explorer Soco International also falls as it puts assets under review and announces plans to trim expenditure. And in another example of the knock-on effect of the sector’s problems, steel pipe maker Vallourec warns of at least $1.1 billion in write-downs as customers rein in spending.