Miners slump to midMarch low on China concerns
Eurozone volatility gauge spikes above 30
French stocks look past Macron election win

April 25 Reuters The main European stock indexes fell more than 2 on Monday as worries about an economic slowdown in China and rapid U.S. interest rate hikes overshadowed relief from French President Emmanuel Macron39;s election victory over the weekend.

The continentwide STOXX 600 index slumped 2.1 to its lowest since midMarch, with UK39;s FTSE 100 sliding 2.2 and Germany39;s DAX down 1.6.

Chinaexposed sectors such as miners, oil gas and luxury stocks were among the top decliners in Europe as fears grew that Beijing was on the verge of joining Shanghai in pandemicrelated lockdowns. 

Miners dipped 5.5 to a onemonth low as industrial metal prices slumped on concerns about waning demand from top metals consumer China, while oil and gas stocks dropped 3.3.

France39;s CAC 40 dropped 2.4, caught in a wider riskoff move, even as Sunday39;s election results showed proEU centrist Macron beating farright challenger Marine Le Pen with a solid margin. 

French stocks have outperformed the wider STOXX 600 index over the past two weeks after polls put Macron in the lead, reassuring markets about France39;s commitment to an integrated Europe even if his economic platform now depends on parliamentary elections in June.

That followed a brief period of volatility in markets when polls showed a relatively small lead over Le Pen, who favours…