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Mercedes-Benz slips after Q1 earnings miss

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HSBC ( HSBC ) jumps after results, $3 bln in fresh buybacks

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Logitech shines on robust FY guidance, Q4 results

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EZ inflation, Q1 GDP data

(Updated at 0817 GMT)

By Ankika Biswas

April 30 (Reuters) - European shares edged lower on

Tuesday as investors parsed a raft of mixed earnings reports

from industry heavyweights like Mercedes-Benz and HSBC ( HSBC ), while

also keeping an eye out for economic data, including the April

euro zone's inflation numbers.

The continent-wide STOXX 600 stocks index slipped

0.2% as of 0817 GMT, set to log its first monthly decline in

six, knocked down by record-high interest rates, Middle East

tensions and uncertainty about the European Central Bank's

monetary policy outlook.

Miners and energy are on track to become

the top sectoral performers this month, while financial services

and insurers are the worst hit.

On the day, the automobile sector shed 1.5%,

with Mercedes-Benz declining 3.7% after a

first-quarter earnings fall, Stellantis ( STLA ) dropping 1.8%

on a plunge in first-quarter revenue and Volkswagen

losing 2.2% after reporting a lower first-quarter operating

profit.

At the top of investors' watch list are the bloc-wide flash

April inflation and first-quarter GDP data during the day as

multiple ECB policymakers have flagged a dimming likelihood of

rate cuts beyond a likely first one in June.

"So many members of the ECB's Governing Council have

recently announced a rate cut in June that hell would have to

freeze over for it to be called off," Commerzbank Research

analysts wrote.

"This round of inflation numbers is not what matters...

It's more about later numbers when it comes to how quickly and

how many more rate cuts may follow."

Dutch policymaker

Klaas Knot

told Nikkei that euro zone inflation is falling towards 2%

and geopolitical stress poses only moderate risks, but the ECB

should still exercise caution beyond a June rate cut.

The much-awaited May policy decision from the U.S. Federal

Reserve on Wednesday is also on investors' radar.

Among others, HSBC ( HSBC ) rose 2.9% after the

Asia-focussed lender announced its quarterly results, a share

buyback plan and CEO Noel Quinn's surprise retirement.

Vonovia climbed 5.6% following the largest

German real estate group's return to profit in the first

quarter.

Finnish engineering group Cargotec ( CYJBF ) jumped 12.8%

to the top of the STOXX 600 after first-quarter results.

Logitech advanced 9.2% after the Swiss-American

computer peripheral maker's better-than-expected full-year

outlook and fourth-quarter results beat.

Satellite company SES shed 10.4% on agreeing to

buy all shares of Intelsat Holdings for about $3.1 billion and

reporting first-quarter results.

Prudential shed 4.7% after the British insurer's

annual premium equivalent sales for CITIC Prudential Life, its

Chinese Mainland joint venture, fell 17% in the first quarter.