European shares fall on stalling global growth fears

European stocks fell early on Thursday, resuming their recent slide as focus returned to the stalling global economic recovery after a downbeat outlook from a U.S. tech bellwether and on concerns of further fiscal tightening in China, according to Reuters. At 0813 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was down 1.1 percent at 960.91 points. "At the start of the week, we were expecting a selloff and it hadn't materialised, with people selectively putting money into a few stocks keeping the froth alive, and so I think it is overdue," the head of institutional trading at a UK-based investment bank, said. Swiss cement maker Holcim was the biggest faller across all sectors, sliding 7.3 percent after it reported forecast-lagging second-quarter results, hit by a strong Swiss franc and raw materials costs.