European stocks on Friday were limping toward their second-worst weekly finish in the year.
The Stoxx Europe 600 SXXP, 0.33% fell 0.3% to 466.08.
The 2% weekly fall, as of midday, is the worst since the 2.4% retreat in the week ending Feb. 26.
The automotive sector paced Friday’s retreat, as Volkswagen VOW3, -1.02% said it would cut production at its main plant in Wolfsburg due to a shortage of microchips, an issue hitting the entire industry.
Travel and leisure sector companies also struggled, with CTS Eventim EVD, -2.83%, Deutsche Lufthansa LHA, -2.65% and Wizz Air Holdings WIZZ, -2.92% losing ground.
Of the major regional indexes, the German DAX DAX, 0.27% declined 0.5%, the French CAC 40 PX1, 0.31% declined 0.4%, and the U.K. FTSE 100 UKX, 0.39% declined 0.2%.
Marks & Spencer MKS, 14.09% was the top-performing Stoxx 600 company, surging 11%, after saying full-year profit would come in above the top end of analyst forecasts.
