Societe Generale shares jump on unit sale
Idorsia dives 18.5 after postponing FY and Q1 results
AstraZeneca rises on plans to hike annual dividend
STOXX 600 off 0.3 ahead of ECB decision due at 1215 GMT

April 11 Reuters European shares slipped on Thursday as investors avoided big bets ahead of a monetary policy decision by the European Central Bank and remarks by ECB39;s Christine Lagarde on the outlook for interest rate cuts.

The panEuropean STOXX 600 lost 0.3, as of 0906 GMT. The telecommunications sector led sectoral declines, weighed by a 5.5 drop in Deutsche Telekom as the company traded exdividend.

All eyes will be on ECB39;s decision due at 1215 GMT, where the central bank is likely to stand pat on interest rates, but focus will be on any hints that a rate cut could be delivered in June, given easing price pressures and economic weakness.

Ratesensitive sectors such as real estate and banks dipped 0.6 and 1.0 respectively.

The ECB has clearly signalled that it wants to see more evidence of moderating wage growth before it is ready to cut interest rates, said Joost van Leenders, senior investment strategist at Van Lanschot Kempen.

Following a broadly lacklustre week, the STOXX 600 hit a onemonth low in the previous session after a hot U.S. inflation report sparked concerns on the timeline for the Federal Reserve39;s first interest rate cut and raising expectations that the ECB could lower rates before its U.S. counterpart.

Societe Generale39;s shares…