Stoxx 600 down 10.6 for this quarter
All eyes on euro zone inflation data on Friday
Uniper hits bottom of STOXX after outlook withdrawal

June 30 Reuters European shares on Thursday looked set for their worst quarter since the pandemicled carnage in early 2020, as investors became increasingly wary of a global recession in the wake of hawkish central bank actions to tame rapid inflation.

The continentwide STOXX 600 index dropped 1.3, setting it up for quarterly losses of more than 10.

France39;s CAC 40 index slid 1.8 as preliminary official figures showed inflation climbed further from the previous month to a record 6.5.

What we39;re seeing at the moment is more evidence that inflation is serious, entrenched and investors are having to now reappraise the valuations they are putting on equities, said Azad Zangana, senior European economist and strategist at Schroders.

Now for a little while, the attitude in Europe was well a lot of the inflation is external. That39;s changing now and over the next few months, the European Central Bank will have to step up its efforts to curb inflation over the next few years.

The STOXX 600 fell for a second straight day after global central bank chiefs said bringing down high inflation around the world will be painful and could even crash growth.

All eyes are now on the first estimate of June inflation for the euro zone due on Friday, which the ECB should scrutinize ahead of its July 21 policy meeting where it promised to hike…