EU STOCKS weak with Ukraine back in focus

European stock markets dropped for a third straight day on Friday as investors digested the latest developments in Ukraine and Portuguese stocks tumbled ahead of the country’s exit from its international bailout program

UN human rights monitors find “alarming deterioration” in East Ukraine. They concerned about saftey of Ukraine presidential candidates and over harassment and potential deportation of Crimean citizens who did not apply for Russian citizenship.

As reported that Ukrainian troops have moved to force separatists from their eastern rebel bases near the towns of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, citing acting President Oleksandr Turchynov. Meanwhile, U.S. and U.K. diplomats vowed to impose further industrywide sanctions on Russia if the country undermines Ukraine’s presidential election later this month.

The Stoxx Europe 600 index fell 0.2% to 337.89, after sliding the most in a month on Thursday. 

Pushing the benchmark lower, shares of Credit Suisse Group AG fell 1.2% after The Wall Street Journal late Thursday reported that the bank is expected to pay almost $2.5 billion to settle a tax probe.

Among other country-specific indexes, France’s CAC 40 index lost 0.1%, while Germany’s DAX 30 index gave up 0.3%. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 index rose 0.1%.

On Friday, the Portugal’s PSI 20 index continued to slide, down 2.3% to 6,730.39, as the country prepared to exit its international bailout program on Saturday.

Banks were among hardest hit stocks in Portugal, with shares of Banco Espirito Santo SA off 11% and Banco Comercial Português SA down 5%.

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