European Stocks Fall On Manufacturing Slowdown, Oil Price Slump

European stocks fell on Monday, starting the week and the month in the red amid a fall in euro-zone manufacturing output and as slumping oil prices hit energy stocks. The Markit Economics euro-zone manufacturing gauge fell from 50.6 in October to 50.1 in November, below an earlier flash estimate of 50.4. In London, falling oil prices hit stocks including Tullow Oil BG Group plc and BG Group plc. Elsewhere on the continent, several stocks got a boost from a fresh wave of m&a news. Cable investor Altice SA soared as Altice started exclusive talks for Oi SA's Portuguese assets. And in Frankfurt, E.ON SE gained after Germany’s largest utility announced plans to spin off its conventional generation, global energy trading, and exploration businesses in order to focus on renewable energy.