PARIS (Reuters) – European stock markets ended slightly down on Friday after a shortened and no volume session on Christmas Eve on profit taking, after the gains caused by the ebb in fears about the Omicron variant of the coronavirus .
In Paris, the CAC 40 lost 0.28% to 7,086.58 points. The British Footsie (-0.02%) ended almost in equilibrium. London financial markets will remain closed Monday and Tuesday for Christmas and Boxing Day.
The EuroStoxx 50 index lost 0.25%, the FTSEurofirst 300 fell 0.1% and the Stoxx 600 fell 0.11%.
The stock markets of several countries including Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the United States did not open their doors on Christmas Eve.
Over the week, the CAC 40 gained 2.3% and the Stoxx 600 gained 1.92%, supported by encouraging studies on the virulence of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus as well as by solid statistics published in the United States. days.
“The most popular source (for the rally) is the growing perception that Omicron is less lethal. This belief has contributed to the return of risk appetite but self-fulfilling expectations of a Christmas rally and the decline liquidity also came into play, “said Giuseppe Sersale, fund manager at Anthilia.
“I still think the information on Omicron is good but not as good as the market takes it,” he added.
The European index has grown by around 21% since the start of the year, which marks a rebound after the 4% drop in 2020.
VALUES
On the stock market, sector performance ranged between a loss of 0.3% for the energy compartment and a gain of 0.19% for the media.
In Paris, STMicroelectronics (+ 1.17%) finished first in the CAC 40 ahead of Publicis (+ 0.99%) and Atos (+ 0.92%).
TechnipFMC lost 1.04%.
CHANGES / RATES
As for foreign exchange, largely deserted with the end of year celebrations, the euro is stable at 1.132 dollars.
The single currency has gained 0.77% since last Friday’s close and at the same time the dollar has lost 0.57% against a basket of international currencies as the greenback has been slipped for assets deemed less secure with the allaying health and economic concerns.
The ten-year German Bund yield ended stable at -0.251%, after peaking one month on Thursday at -0.235% on improving market sentiment.
OIL
Brent fell 1.29% to $ 75.86 but headed for a weekly gain of 3.2% as fears about the impact of the Omicron variant on the global economy subsided.
(edited by Jean-Stéphane Brosse)
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