European Stocks Fall on Global Growth Concerns and After Fed Minutes

European stocks fell on Thursday, taking their cue from Asia on concerns about global growth and fading expectations of an imminent U.S. interest rate rise following yesterday’s publication of the Fed policy minutes from July. In Europe, a 0.1% monthly rise in U.K. retail sales did little to boost confidence in this region’s recovery. Among gainers, Dutch food retailer Royal Ahold was up on better than expected second-quarter results. And in London, Kaz Minerals plc surged 18.5% after Kazakhstan’s government allowed its currency to devalue. In Zurich, watchers makers were down after the FH Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry released data for July showing a 9.3% export slump in July.