LONDON, Dec 27 (Reuters) – Fresh concerns that the United
States may fail to reach a deal to avoid growth-sapping fiscal
measures weighed on European shares on Thursday, although most
traders still felt an agreement would be reached.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index closed
broadly flat at 1,137.60 points, although the euro zone’s
blue-chip Euro STOXX 50 index edged up by 0.4
percent to 2,659.95 points.

LONDON, Dec 27 (Reuters) – European shares edged higher on
Thursday, with mining stocks among the best performers, although
concerns over the outcome of U.S. budget talks prevented many
investors from taking on big, new equity positions.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index rose by 0.2
percent to 1,139.71 points by around midday, close to a 19-month
high of 1,144.15 points reached last week.

LONDON, Dec 24 (Reuters) – Britain’s benchmark share index
edged higher on Monday, with miner Evraz among the top
gainers, although traders said uncertainty over U.S. budget
talks would cap any gains in the coming sessions.

The blue-chip FTSE 100 index was up by 0.2 percent,
or 9.90 points, at 5,949.99 points in early morning trade,
recovering from two sessions of minor losses at the end of last
week.

LONDON, Dec 21 (Reuters) – Weaker bank stocks led European
shares lower on Friday, unsettled by new signs the United States
may fail to reach a deal to avoid growth-sapping fiscal
measures.

Equities fell after the U.S. Republican party failed
overnight to back a plan aimed at averting a “fiscal cliff” of
tax hikes and government spending cuts at the New
Year.

LONDON, Dec 20 (Reuters) – European equity indexes slipped
from multi-month highs on Thursday after fresh signs of friction
in U.S. budget talks, while a fall in mobile network maker
Ericsson also weighed on markets.

Many traders said they were looking for opportunities to
sell shares into any rally to lock in their profits before the
year-end, adding that some equity indexes looked “overbought” on
a technical basis and could be poised for small falls.

LONDON, Dec 20 (Reuters) – European equity indexes slipped
from multi-month highs on Thursday after new signs of friction
in U.S. budget talks, while a fall in mobile network maker
Ericsson also weighed on markets.

Many traders said they were looking for opportunities to
sell shares into any rally in order to lock in their profits
before the year-end, adding that some equity indexes looked
“overbought” on a technical basis and therefore poised for minor
declines.

LONDON, Dec 17 (Reuters) – European shares fell on Monday,
hit by slumps in telecoms group KPN and power company
Aggreko, as investors cashed in some equity holdings at
the start of the final, full trading week of 2012.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index closed down
0.1 percent at 1,132.52 points, while the euro zone’s blue-chip
Euro STOXX 50 index also fell 0.1 percent to
2,628.01 points.

LONDON, Dec 14 (Reuters) – European shares steadied near
18-month highs on Friday, lifted by chemicals group AkzoNobel
and carmaker Daimler, and many traders
expected a further gradual rise before the year-end.

Uncertainty over talks in the United States to avoid
growth-curbing austerity measures has kept equity markets within
a tight range this month.

LONDON, Dec 13 (Reuters) – European shares slipped from
18-month highs on Thursday, led by a fall in heavyweight
healthcare stocks, after uncertainty over U.S. budget talks
prompted investors to cash in an eight-session winning streak.

Although many traders were looking to book profits by
selling shares before the end of 2012, a Reuters poll forecast
further gains for European equities in 2013, on prospects of an
improvement to the area’s economy and its sovereign debt crisis.

LONDON, Dec 13 (Reuters) – European shares are poised for
further gains in 2013, a Reuters poll of investors and analysts
showed, with many expecting the economic backdrop to improve as
the region’s sovereign debt crisis eases.

The euro zone’s blue-chip Euro STOXX 50 index is
seen rising 10 percent from Wednesday’s close to end 2013 at
2,883.5 points, a level last seen in the first half of 2011,
according to the poll of almost 50 market watchers taken in the
past week.