European stocks climb on coat-tails of Wall Street

Global stock markets mostly fell on Tuesday, following strong recent gains as political uncertainty weighed on Europe and oil prices sagged.

Oil futures set new 2017 lows on persistent oversupply worries, pushing down energy stocks in equity markets.

London shares failed to benefit from a weaker pound after Bank of England governor Mark Carney poured cold water on raising interest rates any time soon and analysts speculated on how tough Brexit terms will be after negotiations on Britain's departure from the EU got under way.

"The FTSE 100 erased early forex-induced gains by the afternoon when energy sector shares slumped alongside the price of oil," said Jasper Lawler, an analyst with London Capital Group.

Equity markets in Paris and Frankfurt also ended lower.

Analysts at Charles Schwab brokerage said investors were starting to worry about upcoming elections in Germany and Italy.

Leading US indices retreated from records, with weakness in petroleum-linked shares, airlines and media companies weighing on the market.

Tokyo stocks ended 0.8 percent higher, with exporters key winners thanks to the weaker yen, while tech firms bounced after two weeks of sharp losses.

However, most other regional Asian markets struggled after Monday's healthy gains.

Among individual stocks, Barclays shares fell after Britain's Serious Fraud Office said it had charged the UK banking group and a former chief executive with fraud linked to funding from Qatar.

American Airlines shed 3.3 percent after it axed dozens of flights because of dangerously high heat in the state of Arizona. United Continental and Delta Air Lines both lost more than one percent.

Ford fell 1.1 percent as it announced it would import new Focus sedans to the US market from China after a highly-publicized move to cancel plans to build the car in Mexico following criticism from President Donald Trump. Ford said no American jobs will be lost.

Airbag maker Takata plummeted 20 percent, meaning it has lost a third of its value in just two days following reports it will file for bankruptcy protection and sell its assets to a US company.

Japan's Nikkei business daily said last week the company, with liabilities exceeding $9 billion, would make a formal decision about the filing at a board meeting this month.

- Key figures around 2100 GMT -

New York - Dow: DOWN 0.3 percent at 21,467.14 (close)

New York - S&P 500: DOWN 0.7 percent at 2,437.03 (close)

New York - Nasdaq: DOWN 0.8 percent at 6,188.03 (close)

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.7 percent at 7,472.71 points (close)

Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.3 percent at 5,293.65 (close)

Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 0.6 percent at 12,814.79 (close)

EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.5 percent at 3,560.65

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.8 percent at 20,230.41 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 0.3 percent at 25,843.04 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.8 percent at 5,757.30 (close)

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1132 from $1.1148 at 2100 GMT on Monday

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2624 from $1.2737

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 111.46 yen from 111.52 yen

Oil - Brent North Sea: DOWN 89 cents at $46.02 per barrel

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 92 cents at $43.51 per barrel