European shares end lower as Fed optimism short-lived; banks outperform

European shares closed lower for a fourth straight session on Wednesday as concerns about trade tensions and a weak global economy highlighted by Fed chair Jerome Powell overshadowed short-lived optimism of an interest rate cut later in the month.

Powell said trade uncertainties and concerns about the global economy continue to weigh on the US economic outlook and the US central bank stands ready to "act as appropriate" to sustain a decade-long expansion.

Markets jumped on the comments as sufficiently dovish pushing the S&P 500 above the 3,000 mark for the first time and sending most European indices into positive territory.

The optimism was however, short-lived with all major indices slipping back into negative territory and the pan-European  index STOXX 600 closing 0.2pc lower.

"So far the central banker hasn't given much away in terms of clues as to possible changes to monetary policy, although earlier in the day, he warned that uncertainties have continued," said David Madden, market analyst at CMC Markets.

"Some dealers are sitting on their hands until they get a clear view from Powell."

Powell's statements on the global economy come a day after German chemical giant BASF warned that the protracted trade war between the United States and China was likely to eat into corporate earnings, in particular for the agricultural and auto sectors.

Bond proxies such as real estate and telecom  were the biggest losers but banks and Milan's bank-heavy FTMIB index outperformed as robust industrial data out of France and Italy earlier in the day helped push euro zone bond yields higher.

A surge in crude prices and gains for metals helped energy and mining majors helped the oil and gas and basic resources sectors gain nearly 0.6pc each.

Chip stocks led by AMS also fared better after TSMC reported its best monthly sales in June since December.

Planemaker Airbus rose 1.5pc after confirming deliveries rose by 28pc in the first-half of the year, putting it ahead of Boeing for the first time in eight years.

Among individual losers, British recruiter Hays Plc was down 6.6pc as peer Pagegroup tumbled 15pc after issuing a profit warning, while fashion retailer Superdry  slid on posting disappointing full-year results.