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European Markets Close a Strong Year on a Slight Down Note

Published 12/31/2021, 03:26 AM
Updated 12/31/2021, 09:28 AM
© Reuters

© Reuters

UK100
0.42%
XAU/USD
0.17%
FCHI
0.14%
AEX
0.46%
DE40
-0.18%
ES35
0.33%
STOXX50
-0.19%
IT40
-0.08%
RENA
1.77%
KGF
-0.32%
EUFI
1.85%
HUDN
0.00%
GC
0.00%
LCO
1.24%
CL
-0.09%
EVOK
1.66%
FRES
-0.08%
BTC/USD
3.85%
ETH/USD
2.36%

By Daniel Shvartsman

Investing.com - European stock markets - or at least the ones open for trading - closed lower on Friday to finish the year.

In a shortened day of trading, the CAC 40 traded .28% lower while the FTSE 100 traded down .32%. The AEX was down .29%.

Most other major European markets were closed in observance of New Year's Day tomorrow,.

In corporate news, Hunter Douglas NV (AS:HUDN) shares rose 70% on the heels of an announcement that 3G Capital would buy the windows coverings maker for €175/share. 888 Holdings (LON:888) updated on its plans to acquire William Hill's non U.S. business, saying it expects to publish its prospectus for the deal in Q2 2022, and hold a shareholder vote and close the merger afterwards but also in Q2. Shares finished 1.7% lower.

Renault SA (PA:RENA) was the leading winner on the CAC 40, up 1.5% for the day, while Eurofins Scientific SE (PA:EUFI) was the leading loser, down 2.1%.

In the U.K., Melrose Industries finished up 2.3% while Fresnillo PLC (LON:FRES) closed up 1.7%. Kingfisher PLC (LON:KGF) was the worst performer on the day, down 3.15%.

On the commodities front, Crude Oil WTI Futures and Brent Oil Futures were down 1% and .8% respectively entering U.S. trading hours, while Gold Futures were up .7%. Even that leaves oil on track for its best year since at least 2016, and gold with its worst in the last six.

Bitcoin traded 1.2% higher and Ethereum 1.9% higher, leaving the cryptocurrencies poised for a strong finish to a big year.

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For the year, European indices had impressive performances, with the top indices finishing as follows for 2021:

(Samuel Indyk contributed to this article).

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