European stocks fell from record levels on Thursday, with the Stoxx 50 and the Stoxx 600 down by about 0.4%. European banks slipped more than 1%, dragged lower by HSBC, whose shares dropped 4.5% after announcing a privatization bid for its 63%-owned Hong Kong subsidiary, Hang Seng Bank. Luxury and consumer goods stocks also suffered: Ferrari tumbled 15% after lowering full-year and 2030 guidance and cutting EV sales targets, while LVMH, Hermes, and L’Oreal fell 2.6%, 2.2%, and 1.7%, respectively. Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk dropped 1.1% after announcing plans to acquire US biotech Akero Therapeutics for $54 per share, valuing it at $4.7 billion, with an additional potential $6 per share contingent value right. Attention today was focused on France as President Macron pledged to appoint a new prime minister within 48 hours after Sebastien Lecornu’s resignation, amid calls to avoid another centrist ally.