Europe seesaws; confidence drops ahead of earnings

European equities are expected to open lower Tuesday amid investor caution as first quarter earnings season officially kicks off.

U.S. stocks finished lower on Monday amid worries that a strong U.S. dollar could weigh on earnings at major companies. First quarter earnings season officially kicks off on Tuesday with blue chips JPMorgan Chase reporting before the bell and Intel after the close. Wells Fargo also reports before the open.

Asian stocks traded mixed on Tuesday following the recent bull-run in various regional markets and as investors looked ahead to the looming earnings season. Investors are also looking ahead to first quarter GDP data from China on Wednesday, which could show the pace of growth in the world's second largest economy has slowed further.

Greece remains firmly in focus after denying a report on Monday by the Financial Times that it was preparing for a debt default if it did not reach a deal with its creditors by the end of the month and said the negotiations were proceeding "swiftly" towards a solution.

In the U.K., with less than a month before the country's general election, political parties are releasing their manifestos this week. On Monday, the Labour party published its plans for government and on Tuesday, Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to present his Conservative party's manifesto. Labour is just one point ahead of the Conservatives in the latest YouGov poll on Monday evening.

Earnings are due from ASML, Kuehne and Nagel, Poundland publishes its fourth quarter trading update and Aggreko releases an interim management statement.