European shares finished 2021 in muted fashion, closing lower in thin volumes as traders and investors pondered a new year in the shadow of surging Omicron Covid cases.
London stocks dipped on the final day of 2021 but were higher overall for the year, as investors continued to mull the impact of the Omicron Covid variant.
The FTSE 100 ended its short trading week just 12. 44 points higher, closing at 7,384. 54 on the last day of 2021.
US futures were lower ahead of the final session of the year as traders prepared for New Year’s eve celebrations against the backdrop of growing Covid Omicron cases.
Melrose Industries was at the top of the buyers side of the ledger on Friday, with the company reporting that the wife of chief operating officer Peter Dilnot had purchased 32,000 shares.
Advance Energy announced on Friday that the Valaris JU-107 jack-up drilling rig had started operations at the Buffalo-10 well location, offshore Timor-Leste.
Griffin Mining announced on Friday that mining and milling operations ceased on the night shift last night and, as was customary practice for the Caijiaying Mine, would remain closed during the Chinese New Year holiday period.
Oncimmune announced the publication of a paper arising from the research collaboration with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Friday, focusing on the sex-specific autoimmune reactivity to SARS-CoV-2 - the virus which causes Covid-19 - following mildly symptomatic infection.
Europe-focussed gas and power project developer Prospex Energy has repaid a total of £18,764. 70 in scheduled capital repayments due on the loan note issued in December 2018, it announced on Friday.
Asian stocks finished the final session of the year in a mixed state on a quiet Friday, with technology plays leading the gains in Hong Kong.
The cryptocurrency market had a modest rebound on Thursday, that continues on Friday, as Bitcoin and the rest of the altcoins, are ready to hold positions on the last day of the year of the consecration of the cryptosphere. The world's most traded digital currency clings to the $47,000 barrier after three days of declines this week, that all but negated the Christmas rally, while Ethereum tries to reconquer $3,800.
European shares opened the final session of 2021 slightly lower in thin volumes as traders and investors pondered a new year in the shadow of surging Omicron Covid cases.
London stocks fell at the open as the final trading session of 2021 got underway, as investors continued to mull the impact of the Omicron Covid variant.
London stocks were set to fall at the open on the final day of 2021, as investors continue to mull the impact of the Omicron Covid variant.
The viability of thousands of small businesses is at risk as escalating energy costs take their toll on companies just as they try to recover from Covid restrictions, according to a stark warning from their federation. Small businesses, which employ almost 13 million people in the UK, are expected to feel the brunt of crippling energy costs in the coming weeks as firms begin to strike new fixed-term deals amid record high energy market prices across Europe. - Guardian.
US stocks reversed earlier gains to end their Santa rally by the close on Thursday, as investors digested the latest jobless claims.
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