2017.10.1920:56:00UTC+00European Markets Drop on Catalonia Uncertainty, Mixed Bag of Earnings

European markets finished lower on Thursday, as the political showdown surrounding Spain's Catalonia heightened while earnings season provided a mixed bag of reports.

The pan-European STOXX 600 declined over 0.6 percent, with all but four sectors in the red.

Madrid's IBEX dropped 0.74 percent on the day. The Spanish central government said that it would move to suspend Catalonia's autonomy after regional leader Carles Puigdemont failed to leave a bid for independence or provide clarity on the matter.

Bank stocks retreated 0.7 percent as Spanish lenders were under pressure, while Spanish government bond yields increased.

The STOXX 600's worst performing stock was London-listed IWG, after the group issued a trading update which said that group operating profit for 2017 is currently expected to be "materially below market expectations." IWG shares plunged more than 32 percent.

London Stock Exchange Group shares dropped into negative territory after it announced that CEO Xavier Rolet would be leaving the group by the end of next year.

Advertising group Publicis dropped over six percent after the firm's third-quarter sales fell short of market forecasts.

German forklift truck and robotics maker Kion tumbled 9.2 percent after it trimmed its 2017 guidance.

Consumer goods company Unilever posted a slowdown in third-quarter revenue, placing blame on natural disasters, and poor weather in Europe for weakened growth. Shares of the company declined over 5.5 percent, dropping to the bottom of the household goods sector.