Economy
In reply to the discussion: STOCK MARKET WATCH, Tuesday, December 20, 2011. [View all]Ghost Dog
(16,881 posts)PARIS, Dec 20 (Reuters) - European stocks climbed in light trade on Tuesday morning, halting a two-week slide, as data showing a sharp rise in German business sentiment overshadowed lingering concerns over the euro zone debt crisis...
... At 0956 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was up 0.5 percent at 962.14 points in choppy trade following a 4.3 percent slide over the past two weeks. The euro zone's blue chip Euro STOXX 50 index was up 0.8 percent at 2,221.36 points, following a near 9 percent drop in two weeks.
Data showed German business sentiment rose sharply in December, defying expectations for a decline and underscoring the strength of Europe's biggest economy... The Munich-based Ifo think tank said its business climate index, based on a monthly survey of some 7,000 companies, rose to 107.2 in December from 106.6 in November...
... Around Europe on Tuesday, Britain's FTSE 100 index was down 0.2 percent, Germany's DAX index up 0.6 percent, and France's CAC 40 up 0.6 percent. The STOXX euro zone bank index is on track to record a loss of 40 percent for 2011, hurt by fears the euro zone sovereign debt crisis could to lead to massive defaults.
/... http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/12/20/markets-europe-stocks-idUKL6E7NK1ZY20111220