European shares News

Away from the main markets, bitcoin`s vertiginous ascent showed no signs of abating, with the cryptocurrency soaring to another record high just a few percent away from $10,000 after gaining more than a fifth in value over the past three days alone.

World stocks hit record highs on Thursday and the dollar dipped after the US Federal Reserve signalled caution in raising interest rates, while oil prices rose in anticipation of top producers agreeing to extend output cuts for up to a year.

The dollar tumbled and Asian stocks rose to one-year highs on Wednesday after surprisingly weak U.S. services sector activity dashed already slim chances of an interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve as early as this month.

European shares fell on Monday, as a decline in the share prices of major mining stocks and in French supermarket operator Casino weighed on the region`s stock markets

Signs that a deal could be at hand to stave off a Greek default lifted global shares on Tuesday and cut borrowing costs for euro zone countries seen as most vulnerable to the protracted crisis.

Europe`s main bourses picked after a slow start. The benchmark FTSEurofirst 300 was last up 0.6 percent, as hopes Greece was closing in on a deal with the European Union, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank. Greek stocks surged 7 percent.

Europe`s main bourses picked after a slow start with the region`s benchmark FTSEurofirst 300 last up 0.5 percent, as hopes returned that Greece was close to sealing a deal with its creditors. Athens` stock market surged more than 6 percent.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index was down 1.2 percent by 1057 GMT as euro zone bond yields rose, especially on the bloc`s periphery, while the euro consolidated this week`s hefty gains.

European shares rose on Monday, helped by an almost five percent rally in Chinese stock markets and rumours of progress in Greece`s debt talks that halted sales of the euro.

The Euro Stoxx index of euro zone shares was up 1 percent, retaking some of the ground lost in a decline last Wednesday, when a rising euro hit export-sensitive German stocks.

Wall Street shares fell on Monday, dragged lower by biotech and healthcare stocks, while European shares and the euro advanced on optimism over talks between Greece and its lenders after Greece reshuffled its negotiating team.

The FTSEurofirst 300 was up 0.4 percent at 1,627.56 by 0704 GMT.

European shares hit a 14-year high and the euro fell on Wednesday after the European Central Bank affirmed its loose policy stance, while U.S. stocks rallied after several strong earnings reports.

European shares hit a 14-year high and the euro fell on Wednesday after the European Central Bank affirmed its loose policy stance and as weak data from China raised prospects of monetary easing there too.

World shares tested record highs on Friday as hopes of more easy money from top central banks pushed Japan`s Nikkei past 20,000 points for the first time in 15 years and European stocks reached similar heights.

European shares dipped on Wednesday but held near multi-year highs and the euro rose against the dollar after a survey showed the German business climate improving.

Gold steadied on Friday, due to a softer dollar, but was heading for its biggest monthly loss since September as European shares traded near seven-year highs and upbeat U.S. data supported expectations of a rate hike by the Federal Reserve this year.

U.S. gold futures for delivery in February rose 1.4 percent to $1,252.30 an ounce.

European shares sank for a third day on Tuesday as a slide in oil prices showed no sign of easing off, supporting traditional safe-haven assets such as top-rated government bonds, the Japanese yen and the Swiss franc.

Stocks rose and the euro hit its weakest in more than two years on Wednesday, a day before a crucial European Central Bank meeting that may pave the way for more monetary easing in the euro zone.