Speculation that Greece is preparing for a debt default hit sentiment on the continent on Tuesday, with indices in Spain, Italy and Germany in particular registering heavy losses.
Athens was forced to come out and deny a Financial Times report that cited a government official as saying there is "no alternative" to a default if Athens does not reach a deal with its lenders. However, the office of prime minister Alexis Tsipras said in a statement that negotiations are "proceeding swiftly towards a mutually beneficial solution".