date:Apr 18, 2014
European shares edged lower on Thursday, weighed down by weakness in luxury drinks after a crackdown on gift giving in China knocked beverage company earnings, in quiet trade ahead of a public holiday.
Concerns over a strong euro also hit company earnings, confirming a poor start to the earnings season in Europe.
Remy Cointreau dropped 6.6 percent after it warned full-year operating profit would plunge as much as 40 percent. Cognac sales sank 32 percent in the fourth quarter as the Chinese gov