European stocks dropped Thursday, with all sectors pulling back as investors wrap up the month and the first quarter. The Stoxx Europe 600 fell 0.9% to 337.94, led by oil and gas and financials shares. Equities are struggling “despite a Fed Yellen-sponsored rally mid-week,” analysts at Accendo Markets wrote. This rally and the “U.S. dollar finding support at mid-month lows … hinder commodity gains and temper risk appetite.” The Stoxx 600 was looking at a 1.2% rise for March, but was on track for a 7.7% slide for the quarter. In Thursday’s trade, shares of Bouygues SA fell 3.9% as the French telecommunications company and rival Orange SA extended a deadline to complete merger talks..
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