European stocks falls as positive first half of 2021 winds down. U.S. equity futures drop.

Stock futures ES00, -0.26% YM00, -0.39% NQ00, -0.20% indicated a weaker start for Wall Street as well, ahead of an ADP private-sector hiring report, as Friday’s key jobs report looms.

The S&P 500 SPX, +0.03% and Nasdaq Composite COMP, +0.19% finished Tuesday’s session in record territory after positive data and as investors brushed aside concerns about the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 delta variant. Helping out was news from pharmaceutical company Moderna MRNA , which said an in-vitro study revealed its COVID-19 vaccine can protect against several variants, including the delta variant.

Economic data from the U.K. showed gross domestic product (GDP) fell 1.6% in the first quarter of 2021, revised from an initial estimate of a 1.5% fall. The level of GDP is now 8.8% below — from an initial estimate of 8.7% below — where it was pre-pandemic in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Investors were waiting on a flash estimate of June consumer price inflation for the eurozone. German jobless claims fell by more than expected in June.

Most European stocks were in the red, led by banks, with shares of HSBC HSBC, -1.16% HSBA, -1.45%, BNP Paribas BNP, -2.35% and Banco Santander SAN, -0.76% SAN, -1.54% down around 1% each.

Auto makers were also under pressure, with shares of Porsche Automobil Holding PAH3, -4.94% down 2.9% and Volkswagen VOW3, -3.47% VOW, -3.95% off 2% .

Travel-related stocks also slipped with shares of International Consolidated Airlines IAG, -2.92% down 1.5% and cruise group Carnival CCL, -2.30% off 2%.

Acciona Energia set its initial public offering at the lower end of an expected range, seeking a market capitalization of around 8.8 billion euros ($10.47 billion). The renewable energy company, which is owned by Spain’s Acciona SA ANA, -2.03%, said the IPO would be priced at EUR26.73 per ordinary share. Acciona shares fell 0.5%.