Stock Market

European equities ended lower for a third straight session on Monday as weaker financials and telecommunications stocks outpaced positive energy shares that tracked a jump in oil prices. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed 0.7 percent lower at 657.30 points after setting a fresh lifetime low. The index has declined 21 percent so far this year after plunging 45 percent in 2008.