PARIS (Reuters) – European stock markets are down slightly at the start of the session on Friday in the wake of the fall in Wall Street, but they should nevertheless end the year with a positive performance.
In Paris, the CAC 40 lost 0.24% to 7,156.33 points around 08:55 GMT. In London, the FTSE 100 lost 0.36%.
The EuroStoxx 50 index is down 0.1%, the FTSEurofirst 300 is down 0.06% and the Stoxx 600 is down 0.02%.
The German and Italian markets in particular are closed while the London Stock Exchange will close at 12:30 GMT and those of Euronext at 13:05 GMT.
Volumes remain low and movements limited in Europe for this last session of the year.
European markets should end 2021 with a positive performance, with a gain of around 29% for the CAC 40 for the moment and 22.5% for the Stoxx 600, thanks to monetary and budgetary support, good business results or the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines.
In 2022, the rise in the equity markets could however slow down as many central banks embark on a tightening of their accommodative policy to fight inflation and uncertainties about the pandemic are likely to persist.
On the stock market, the European distribution sector posted the largest increase, its Stoxx index taking 0.13%, and that of transport and leisure the largest decrease, -0.61%.
Airbus shares fell 0.37% after having gathered 0.34% at the very start of trading, the announcement of a contract with the lessor Aviation Capital Group not allowing the aircraft manufacturer to permanently escape the downturn in the market .
(Laetitia Volga, edited by Tangi Salaün)
Copyright © 2021 Thomson Reuters