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Bloomberg

European stocks retreated as a slide in commodity-related stocks outweighed data showing the euro- area economy grew faster in the third quarter than forecast. U.S. index futures were little changed.

Randgold Resources, Anglo American Plc and Rio Tinto Group led a gauge of resource-linked stocks lower amid falling prices. Airbus Group NV gained 2.4 percent after posting better-than- estimated third-quarter earnings as it sold more aircraft. Bouygues SA advanced 3.4 percent after raising its 2014 outlook.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index slipped 0.2 percent to 335.08 at 10:54 a.m. in London. The measure has still rebounded 8.1 percent from this year’s low on Oct. 16 as the Bank of Japan unexpectedly boosted its stimulus and most lenders in Europe passed tests of their capital strength. Standard & Poor’s 500 Index futures rose 0.1 percent today.

“The GDP numbers this morning were proof again of the current economic challenges,” Guillermo Hernandez Sampere, who helps manage about 130 million euros ($168 million) at MPPM EK in Eppstein, Germany, wrote in an e-mail after reports on French and German economic growth. “The European Central Bank did what it can do so far but with the lack of structural reforms in some countries, markets are still worried about the European economy. The conviction to trigger a year-end rally is poor.”

Euro-area GDP increased 0.2 percent from the previous period, when it rose 0.1 percent, the European Union’s statistics office in Luxembourg said. Analysts had forecast growth of 0.1 percent. The expansion was boosted by German GDP, which rose 0.1 percent in the three month through September, in line with estimates. The French economy grew 0.3 percent, surpassing forecasts for 0.1 percent.

U.S. Confidence

In the U.S., a preliminary report will show the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan index of consumer sentiment increased to 87.5 this month from 86.9 in October, according to economists’ forecasts.

A gauge of commodity producers posted the biggest decline of the 19 industry groups on the Stoxx 600 as metal prices fell on concern that slowing global growth will hurt demand. Randgold slid 1.6 percent to 4,121 pence, Anglo American dropped 1.4 percent to 1,341.5 pence, and Rio Tinto retreated 1.4 percent to 3,002.5 pence.

Airbus added 2.4 percent to 48.86 euros. Third-quarter earnings before interest and tax, goodwill impairment and exceptionals rose to 821 million euros ($1.02 billion) from 706 million euros. Analysts had estimated profit of 662 million euros.

Bouygues SA advanced 3.4 percent to 27.98 euros. The French construction, telecommunications and media conglomerate raised its outlook for 2014 revenue as construction abroad offset a slowdown in France and a price war in mobile-phone services.