European shares inched lower today as investors braced for a data-intensive week and awaited speeches from several European Central Bank's officials, keenly watching for clues about the central bank's policy direction in the coming week. The pan-European STOXX 600 index (STOXX), opens new tab was down 0.2 percent after hitting an all-time high last week as inflation in the euro zone fell to 2.2 percent in August 2024, its slowest pace since July 2021. Mining companies led the losses, with their shares falling 1.3 percent after most industrial metals started September on a down note. Investors will track manufacturing data for August from Germany, Spain, and the consolidated 20-country euro zone later this evening to gauge the strength of the region's economies. Source: Oman News Agency