European stocks drive lower, heading for bigger quarterly loss

European stocks dropped Thursday, with all sectors pulling back as investors wrap up the month and the first quarter. The Stoxx Europe 600 fell 0.9% to 337.94, led by oil and gas and financials shares. Equities are struggling "despite a Fed Yellen-sponsored rally mid-week," analysts at Accendo Markets wrote. This rally and the "U.S. dollar finding support at mid-month lows ... hinder commodity gains and temper risk appetite." The Stoxx 600 was looking at a 1.2% rise for March, but was on track for a 7.7% slide for the quarter. In Thursday's trade, shares of Bouygues SA fell 3.9% as the French telecommunications company and rival Orange SA extended a deadline to complete merger talks..

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