"Earnings are expected to snap the run of double-digit growth" in Europe, said Jane Drake, who helps oversee 10.4 billion U.S. dollars investment director at Tilney Investment Management in Liverpool, England.

    "We've had a lot of economic data that has raised concerns about growth, inflation and housing."

    SAP AG, Axa SA and Lafarge SA led declines by companies reliant on sales in the U.S. while British Airways Plc retreated as the climb in oil prices raised fuel costs.

    The Dow Jones Stoxx 600 index decreased 0.5 percent this week to 374.22. The measure rose 2.5 percent in the first three months of the year, its third consecutive quarterly advance.

    The Stoxx 50 fell 0.9 percent, and the Euro Stoxx 50, a gauge for the 13 nations using the euro, dropped 0.3 percent.

    France's CAC 40 fell less than 0.1 percent while Germany's DAX increased 0.3 percent. The United Kingdom's FTSE 100 retreated 0.5 percent.

    Vodafone Group Plc, the world's largest mobile-phone company, led telecom shares lower after reporting shrinking profit margins and saying competitive and regulatory pressure will continue in Europe.

    Amvescap Plc fell after the mutual-fund operator was sued by three bond managers who want to defect to Deutsche Bank AG, saying they are trapped in "indentured servitude" by restrictive employment contracts.

    (Source: Shanghai Daily)