LONDON (MarketWatch) European stocks ended with a whimper Wednesday, giving up a stronger lead following three straight sessions of advances.

Equities across Europe had been higher after European Central Bank Authentic Andrew Quarless Jersey Vice President Vitor Constancio said the bank is prepared to buy government bonds early next year if it decides there's a need to ramp up stimulus measures as the eurozone struggles Fake Men Ray Ban Plastic with low inflation and sluggish growth.

"We have, of course, to closely monitor if the pace of its evolution is in line with that expectation. In Tim Masthay Jersey particular, during the first quarter of next year we will be able to gauge better if that is the case," Constancio said.

The Stoxx Europe 600

was up by as much as 0.4% after Constancio's comments, but the rise was eventually whittled down, leaving the index to close unchanged at 346.28.

Caution may also be setting in ahead of key economic data including inflation figures from the eurozone, he said. European equities have risen since Friday, with the win streak kicked off after ECB President Mario Draghi said policy makers are set to expand stimulus efforts if needed to fend off low inflation.

"Some traders were looking for QE Authentic Sam Shields Jersey as soon as the ECB's meeting next week, and based on some of [Constancio's] comments, it sounds like that might have been a bit premature," said Weller. "Maybe the fact that liquidity is probably coming but coming a little bit later than some expected is prompting some traders to Fake Women Ray Ban Gradient Sunglasses take profit."

Stocks in some of Europe's periphery countries fell, leaving Italy's FTSE MIB

Among individual stocks, shares of Thomas Cook Group PLC

slid 21% as the Norwegian oil services company said it would suspend dividend payments and cut debt, the moves coming after a fall in third Fake Men Ray Ban Metal Sunglasses quarter net profit.

The European luxury goods sector was upgraded to bullish from neutral at Nomura, while analysts at Exane BNP Paribas said Mason Crosby Packers Jersey the sector is "close to a turning point", with a "triple whammy Fake Women Ray Ban Mirror Sunglasses positive playing out" that would likely send related stocks higher in 2015. See slideshow about what the analysts are saying about luxury goods.