Shares on major European stock markets closed the trading session on Tuesday lower, as investors looked towards economic data coming from the United Kingdom and fresh COVID-19 vaccine news. UK manufacturing growth reached a near-record high in April, while the country's March data showed that mortgage approvals decreased when compared to the previous month. Meanwhile, the European Medicines Agency started a review of China's coronavirus vaccine, as the UK announced it was partnering with the World Trade Organization on vaccine supply worldwide.

The DAX continued its downward spiral ending the session 2.49% in the red, with Infineon Tech dropping 5.59%. The CAC 40 dropped 0.89%, as Bouygues was down by 4.92%. The FTSE 100 closed with a decline of 0.67%, with Intermediate Capital Group PLC dropping 4.90%.

The euro was down 0.40% against the dollar at 5:36 pm ET trading for $1.20150, while the pound also decreased by 0.28% against the American currency trading for 1.38704 a minute later.