European stocks ended slightly lower yesterday as Apple's weak outlook fuelled fears the reporting season would begin badly, while concerns for the global economy knocked cyclical stocks like BASF.

Europe's biggest blue-chip losers were chemicals company BASF, which fell 2.3 per cent, and Akzo Nobel, which shed 1.6 per cent as investors wondered whether Wednesday's weak US retail data signified a slowing economy.

"Investors are clearly concerned about economic growth in the US," said Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein's chemicals analyst. By 1530 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of pan-European blue chips had unofficially closed 0.15 per cent lower at 1,100.16 points, while the narrower DJ Euro Stoxx 50 was down 0.1 per cent at 3,076.77 points.

"The economic news in general has been a tad soft for the last month in Europe and globally," said Simon Hallet, a fund manager at Baring Asset Management in London, adding that the reporting season had not started well.

Woolworths was a notable casualty, slumping 29 per cent after buyout firm Apax Partners dropped its £837-million bid for the sweets-to-DVDs retail chain.

Drug companies were among the best performers after US peer Merck & Co. raised its earnings outlook and ahead of a court ruling which may have positive implications for big brand-name drugmakers.