The stock exchanges of Europe closed lower amid reduced trading volume this Friday (24), Christmas Eve, after a recent rally in global equities amid signs that the Ômicron variant coronavirus may not derail the global economic recovery.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 0.1% to 483.01 points in a reduced trading session ahead of the Natal. The benchmark index rose 1.9% this week.
London’s FTSE 100 closed flat, while France’s CAC 40 ended down 0.3%. Stock exchanges in several countries, including Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the United States are closed on Friday.
Most Asian markets were higher, and the S&P 500 closed at a record high the day before on positive economic data and after some studies suggested Ômicron carries a lower risk of hospitalization.
“The European market is moving very narrowly…due to low turnover due to the end of the year and also due to fear of possible restrictions and blockages,” said Raed Alkhedr, chief market analyst at Equiti Group.
A Italy on Thursday (23) tightened restrictions against Covid-19, including banning all public celebrations of the Christmas Eve, as the daily Covid-19 infections reached a record.
The STOXX 600 arrives at the end-of-the-year holiday period with little movement, after climbing 21% so far this year.
Although 2021 was marked by accommodation policies and positive corporate profits, the supply bottlenecks, as inflationary pressures and a new variant of the coronavirus threatens growth and recovery in 2022.
“Santa Claus is not starting a holiday party in the stock markets, but evoking a ‘Santa Claus break’ after this year’s rally,” said Vishnu Varathan, head of economics and strategy at Mizuho Bank.
Reference: CNN Brasil
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