Brussels, Aug 25, 2020, SPA -- European shares fell today, on Tuesday, hurt by losses in British blue chips, while mixed economic data and continued growth in novel coronavirus cases cut short optimism over a possible COVID-19 treatment, Reuters reported. The pan-European STOXX 600 index closed down 0.3% as Monday's gains ran out of steam, putting the benchmark comfortably within its trading range since mid-May. It had gained on Monday after the United States authorized the use of blood plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 as a treatment. Heavyweight British resource stocks were among the biggest drags on the index, due to strength in the pound weighing on their export margins. The STOXX 600 is still some 15% off a pre-pandemic record high, as a recovery from March lows stalled in the face of resurgent COVID-19 cases and sluggish economic growth. Data last week had shown business activity faltering in the region. Markets had initially gained as top U.S. and Chinese trade officials reaffirmed their commitment to the Phase 1 trade deal despite diplomatic rifts between the two countries. The trade-sensitive German DAX closed flat after data showed Europe's largest economy contracted by a record 9.7% in the second quarter, but marked a minor upward revision from an earlier estimate of minus 10.1%. --More 20:14 LOCAL TIME 17:14 GMT 0024 www.spa.gov.sa/w1397795