In US markets, Major indicies fell in tandem with a sharper decline in European stock markets as investors took a cautious stance ahead of the Federal Reserve chief's testimony to a US congressional panel on Wednesday along with mixed US economic data coupled with losses in commodity shares and utilities. Shares of Coca-Cola Co fell after the company reported second-quarter sales were weaker than expected as global economic weakness and cool weather crimped consumption of soft drinks.
On the European front, the British benchmark indices fell due to a surprise dip in German confidence and the earnings outlook fed mild profit-taking while markets awaited fresh clues on US monetary stimulus. The Swedish bank dropped after it posted a fall in second-quarter earnings and said that margins could be weaker in the coming months as a result of increased competition in the country's mortgage market.
Nikkei opened on a negative note during the morning session due to overnight losses on Wall Street coupled with a strengthening yen against US dollar along with expectations that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will reiterate later in the day that US monetary policy is to stay accommodative before Congress.