US market has retreated from a two-day rally after growth in the United States' services sector fell short of expectations.
The Institute for Supply Management said its index of service activity rose to 50.5 in January from a revised 49.8 in December.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 26 points, or 0.26 per cent, to 10,271.
LONDON - European stocks fell back on Wednesday after rising earlier in the trading session as investors cashed in profits ahead of anxiously awaited US unemployment figures, due this week.
London's benchmark FTSE 100 index fell 30.16 points, or 0.57 per cent, to 5,253.15 points.
FRANKFURT - The German DAX dropped 37.57 points, or 0.66 per cent, to 5,672.09 points.
PARIS - The CAC 40 index in France lost 18.66 points, or 0.49 per cent, to 3,793.47.
Crude prices slipped on Wednesday after the government said supplies grew unexpectedly last week.
Benchmark oil for March delivery lost 25 US cents to settle at $US76.98 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, after hitting a day high of $US78.04 earlier in the session.
The Australian market is likely to open weaker after US stocks retreated following lower-than-expected growth in the United States' service businesses. Major commodities also fell overnight.
At 0659 AEDT on the Sydney Futures Exchange, the March share price index contract was 22 points lower at 4,585.
GOLD down $6 to US$1112 an ounce SILVER down 42.6c to US$ 16.317 an ounce COPPER down 11.6c at US$2.9735 a pound
Today's Financial Calendar February 04 2010
BoE interest rate decision ECB interest rate decision Germany Factory Orders Dec (AUS) - Building Approvals Dec (AUS) - Retail Sales December (NZ) - Unemployment Rate Q4 (USA) - Initial Jobless Claims Jan (USA) - Factory Orders Dec (MSC) - AGM (MYR) - 2Q Sales Update (TAH) - Interim Results (ZYL) - Annual General Meeting
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Getting advice from those who may not be qualified to give it.
