Euro zone business activity contracted in July
BMW slumps as it warns of difficult second half
Commerzbank sees energy and growth 39;clouds39; after Q2 profit beat
SocGen up after smallerthanexpected loss
STOXX down 0.2

Aug 3 Reuters European shares fell on Wednesday following a slew of mixed earnings from companies, while gloomy business activity data added to fears of an economic slowdown.

The STOXX 600 index slipped 0.2 in morning trade.

The panEuropean index fell in the previous session on economic slowdown fears after weak factory data globally and on concerns that U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi39;s visit to Taiwan could escalate tensions between Beijing and Washington.

Data on Wednesday showed business activity in the euro zone contracted slightly in July for the first time since early last year as consumers reined in spending amid a costofliving crisis. 

Healthcare stocks such as UK39;s AstraZeneca and Denmarkbased Novo Nordisk AS weighed on Europe39;s benchmark index.

Healthcare has done extremely well over the last couple years. So when you do see times of market stress, some of those top performers tend to come off a bit, said Emma Wall, head of investment analysis and research at Hargreaves Lansdown.

Commerzbank edged up 0.7 on reporting a biggerthanexpected secondquarter net profit, but gains were capped as the German bank39;s chief executive raised concerns about natural gas supply and gross domestic product development in a…