EUROPE MARKETS: European Stocks Waver After France, China Data

By Sara Sjolin, MarketWatch

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- European stock markets struggled for direction on Tuesday after data out of China painted a mixed picture of the country's economy and French industrial production unexpectedly declined.

The Stoxx Europe 600 index was marginally lower at 317.11, but swung between small gains and losses.

Telecom firms were among major movers after a raft of ratings changes. Shares of Iliad SA climbed 2.2% after Deutsche Bank lifted the telecom-services provider to buy from hold.

The bank also lifted Vivendi SA to buy from hold, helping send the shares 2% higher.

Shares of TeliaSonera AB dropped in Stockholm 1.7% after Deutsche Bank cut the telecom firm to sell from hold.

Also in Sweden, Tele2 AB gave up 1.2% after HSBC cut the wireless telecom company to neutral from overweight.

And in Vienna, Telekom Austria AG slid 1.5% after J.P. Morgan Cazenove cut the firm to underweight from neutral.

More broadly, investors digested the latest round of economic data from China and Europe. Data out of the world's second largest economy showed the industrial sector moderated its strong growth, but that retail sales picked up from an already robust pace.

In France, industrial output unexpectedly dropped 0.3% in October, extending the decline from September when it also fell 0.3%.

France's CAC 40 index traded 0.1% lower at 4,131.22.

Germany's DAX 30 index gained 0.2% to 9,209.02 and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 index added 0.1% to 6,563.54.

Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires