European shares dipped on Thursday, tracking Asian markets lower after more violent protests in Hong Kong and weighed down by doubts over the US and China's ability to reach a trade deal any time soon.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 0.24 per cent at 0709 GMT, with traders also pointing to nerves over the scale of monetary easing priced in to markets over the past two weeks.

US inflation data on Wednesday inflated the number of Federal Reserve rate cuts priced in to the money market to three this year. Germany's final inflation reading for May came in line with estimates on Thursday.

Europe's telecom providers index bucked the trend to gain 0.3 per cent after Germany completed its 5G mobile spectrum auction, handing a licence to new entrant 1&1 Drillisch and its parent United Internet.

Shares in Drillisch and United Internet rose by 13 per cent and 8 per cent compared to a just 0.2 per cent rise for the country's former monopoly Deutsche Telekom, whose chief Dirk Woessner said the process had led to high prices and left a “bitter aftertaste”.

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