Germany's DAX index (.GDAXI) fell 0.3% by 0750 GMT, retreating farther from a record high hit on Friday.
The continent-wide STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) edged 0.1% lower.
The chemicals index (.SX4P) slid 1.7%, leading sectoral declines.
London's FTSE 100 index (.FTSE) rose 0.2%.
Reporting by Shreyashi Sanyal in Bengaluru; editing by Eileen SorengOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons:
DAX, Boehringer's Zantac, Stuart Cole, drugmaker, Boehringer, Jerome Powell, Shreyashi Sanyal, Eileen Soreng
Organizations:
Europe Sanofi, Equiti, People's Bank of China, Sanofi, International Chamber of Commerce, Global Auto Holdings, Bank of, Investors, . Federal, Thomson
Locations:
Europe, China, United States, British, Bengaluru