LONDON: World stocks slid Friday with London anxiously awaiting news on whether British Prime Minister David Cameron can deliver a last-gasp deal to stop Britain crashing out of the EU.
London's FTSE 100 index of top companies shed 0.6 percent at midday, while the Frankfurt DAX and the Paris CAC each lost 1.1 percent in value.
Asia's stocks rally fizzled out, as a fresh weakening in oil prices weighed and haven assets such as the yen received a boost.
Cameron admitted Friday there was "still no deal" as he headed into a second day of talks in Brussels, after all-night negotiations failed to deliver an agreement aimed at preventing a 'Brexit', or British exit from the European Union.
Dealers shrugged off upbeat data showing that British retail sales rallied 2.3 percent last month compared with December. That was the biggest increase in more than two years,with sales buoyed by demand for clothing and computers.
- 'Adventures in Brussels' -
"After flitting about for much of the morning the European indices gradually began to look worse and worse, ignoring largely positive data ... to instead focus on David Cameron's adventures in Brussels," said Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell.
Cameron is seeking to reach a deal on reducing welfare payments to EU migrants and opting out of a commitment to ever-closer union.
The British premier wants sweeping reforms to the 28-member bloc which he hopes will stop Britain from becoming the first nation to leave the EU in a membership referendum likely in June.
He has however hit opposition from France and Belgium over his bid to make clear Britain is not committed to ever-closer union and ensure that the City of London financial district is not bound by rules governing the euro single currency area.
"Despite this strong (retail) data, the focus today will remain firmly on the EU leaders' summit in Brussels," added ING economist James Smith, who warned that a looming referendum would create a climate of "uncertainty" that could adversely affect investment.
"If the UK is able to agree a deal, the press is reporting that David Cameron could return to London tonight and announce the referendum date, which will most likely be set to take place on June 23.
"This will essentially mark the formal start of campaigning and with the polls likely to remain tight, we could see a loss of economic momentum over the next couple of quarters as uncertainty prompts firms to temporarily hold off on hiring and investment plans."
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.6 percent at 5,933.4 points
Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 1.1 percent at 9,356.5
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 1.1 percent at 4,192.9
EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 1.4 percent at 2,854.2
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.42 percent at 15,967.17 (close)
Shanghai - composite: DOWN 0.10 percent at 2,860.02 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 0.4 percent at 19,285.5 (close)
New York - Dow: DOWN 0.3 percent at 16,413.43 (close)
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1092 from $1.1105 on Thursday
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 112.88 yen from 113.24 yen
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