STOXX 600 index falls 0.3
UBS drops on disappointing FY guidance
Santander down after Q1 results
Nestle shares jump on sales beat

April 25 Reuters European shares fell on Tuesday, as investors scrutinised more corporate earnings and weighed comments by European Central Bank policymakers on the outlook for interest rates.

The panEuropean STOXX 600 index was down 0.3, with banking shares shed 1.8 as jitters came back to the fore after U.S. lender First Republic Bank said its deposits tumbled more than 100 billion last quarter.

Miners fell 2, dragged by Boliden, which lost 5.6 after the Swedish copper miner posted firstquarter adjusted operating profit below market estimates, citing production challenges.

Meanwhile, the food and beverages index rose 0.5.

The big picture is that markets are in a bit of a consolidation phase. Economic growth has held up better than expected, and for European companies, corporate earnings have been better than expected and today39;s a good example of that, said Andrew Bell, chief executive officer at Witan Investment Trust.

The uncertainty relates to the fact that interest rates are still probably going to rise a little bit further. People are not sure.

Weighing on the index, UBS Group AG lost 2.7 after the bank set aside more money to draw a line under its involvement in toxic mortgages, halving its firstquarter profit.

Spain39;s Banco Santander SA lost 3.9 after the bank reported a 25 fall in net profit in Brazil, its main…