European stocks close lower
European shares closed lower in light holiday trading on Friday, following a recent rally in global shares on signs the Omicron coronavirus variant may not derail global economic recovery.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index slipped 0.1% to 483.01 in a shortened trading session ahead of Christmas. The benchmark has added 1.9% this week.
London’s FTSE 100 closed flat, while France’s CAC 40 ended 0.3% lower.
Stock markets in several countries including Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the US are closed on Friday for Christmas.
Most Asian markets edged higher and the S&P 500 closed at a record high overnight on positive economic data and as some studies suggested the Omicron variant carries a lower risk of hospitalisation.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2021.
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