LONDON - Global shares fell on Thursday as MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan had snapped two days of 1 percent gains to end 0.1 percent lower as most markets across the region posted modest declines.
Europe quickly followed Asia into red with London FTSE , Frankfurt's DAX and Paris' CAC 40 down 0.3 percent to 0.9 percent, and the euro slumped near a three-year low against the dollar after a torrid couple of weeks.
E-mini S&P 500 futures were also down 0.5 percent, pointing to a fade in Wall Street’s strong rally.
Japan's Nikkei fell 0.1 percent. Australia's ASX/S&P 200 index retreated from a record high. The Shanghai Composite fell 0.6 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng was 0.3 percent softer. Gold rose 0.6 percent to US$1574 per ounce.
Rallying oil prices stalled, with Brent crude flat at US$55.72 per barrel.