LONDON, May 23 (Reuters) – Doubts over the Federal Reserve’s
long-term commitment to economic stimulus sent European stocks
into reverse on Thursday, with losses in banks and miners
compounded by weak data in Europe and China.

By 1034 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 was down 2.1
percent, or 26.70 points, at 1,229.58, after Ben Bernanke,
chairman of the U.S. Fed, threatened an earlier-than-expected
pullback of stimulus that has helped propel equities to
multi-year highs.

LONDON, May 23 (Reuters) – European shares went into a
tailspin early on Thursday, spooked by concerns that the U.S.
Federal Reserve could soon taper its stimulus programme and
compounded by weak economic data from China.

By 0729 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 was down 18.47
points, or 1.5 percent, at 1,237.81, having closed at its
highest level since mid-June 2008 in the previous session,
boosted by investors hunting for yield in a low interest rate
environment.

LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) – Britain’s FTSE 100 weakened early
on Wednesday after hitting 13-year highs in the previous
session, as investors looked for further clues from the U.S.
Federal Reserve over the outlook for its stimulus measures.

London’s blue chip index fell 16.89 points, or 0.3
percent to 6,786.98 at 0807 GMT.

LONDON, May 21 (Reuters) – Britain’s blue chip share index
closed within sight of its all-time high on Tuesday, lifted by
mining stocks and positive corporate news from luxury retailer
Burberry among others.

The FTSE 100 index ended up 48.24 points, or 0.7
percent, at 6,803.87, its highest finish since its record close
of 6,950.60 in late 1999.

LONDON (Reuters) – Rallying miners and a contract win for outsourcing company Capita helped steady the FTSE 100 by midday on Tuesday despite weakness in travel firms after disappointing results from Carnival.

By 1011 GMT, London’s blue chip index was up 4.66 points, or 0.1 percent, at 6,760.29, having closed at its highest level since late September 2000 on Monday driven by investors striving for higher returns.

LONDON, May 21 (Reuters) – Rallying miners and a contract
win for outsourcing company Capita helped steady the FTSE 100 by
midday on Tuesday despite weakness in travel firms after
disappointing results from Carnival.

By 1011 GMT, London’s blue chip index was up 4.66 points, or
0.1 percent, at 6,760.29, having closed at its highest level
since late September 2000 on Monday driven by investors striving
for higher returns.

LONDON (Reuters) – European shares lifted off lows on Friday while the dollar held near a 10-month high against a basket of currencies as investors considered the prospect the Federal Reserve might begin easing off on asset buying.

The German Bund future meanwhile rose sharply on what traders said was market talk the European Central Bank had checked some banks’ preparedness for a potential cut in its deposit rate to below zero.

LONDON (Reuters) – The dollar held firm near a 10-month high versus a basket of currencies on Friday and European shares fell after a regional Federal Reserve chief said the U.S. central bank may begin to taper its asset buying this summer.

European shares .FTEU3 were down 0.2 percent at 1,242.49, edging further back from five-year highs and following a retreat in Asian stocks and Thursday’s late fall on Wall Street, but still on track for a weekly gain.

LONDON (Reuters) – The dollar held firm near a 10-month high versus a basket of currencies on Friday and European shares fell after a regional Federal Reserve chief said the U.S. central bank may begin to taper its asset buying this summer.

European shares were down 0.2 percent at 1,242.49, edging further back from five-year highs and following a retreat in Asian stocks and Thursday’s late fall on Wall Street, but still on track for a weekly gain.

LONDON, May 16 (Reuters) – European shares fell slightly by
midday on Thursday after some investors took profits on updates
from Zurich Insurance Group and National Grid as indexes hovered
near multi-year highs.

At 1040 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 was down 0.1
percent at 1,244.74 although it held near five-year highs set in
the previous session.