European, US markets lose gains after US data

Stock markets in Europe and on Wall Street lost earlier gains Tuesday as disappointing U.S. consumer confidence data offset solid housing news.

The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was down 2.09 points, less than 0.1 percent, at 5,163.61 while France's CAC-40 was 8.11 points, or 0.2 percent, lower at 3,816.89. Germany's DAX fell 21.94 points, or 0.4 percent, to 5,714.37.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 11.26 points, or 0.1 percent, at 9,778.10 while the broader Standard & Poor's 500 index was steady at 1,062.98.

U.S. stocks had opened 0.5 percent higher, pulling European markets into positive territory, after …