Get 40% Off
🤯 Perficient is up a mind-blowing 53%. Our ProPicks AI saw the buying opportunity in March.Read full update

CORRECTED-European shares flat after four-day rally

Published 07/01/2011, 06:07 AM

(Removes reference to Citigroup note on banks, which was based on a June 22 release)

* FTSEurofirst 300 flat

* Banks rise; Citigroup says 'oversold'

* U.S. data awaited

By Brian Gorman

LONDON, July 1 (Reuters) - European shares were flat on Friday morning after a four-day rally, as worries about Greece's debt crisis receded and investor attention turned to the strength of global economic recovery.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was down 0.02 percent at 1,110.74 at 0858 GMT, after rising 1.1 percent in the previous session to its highest close in four weeks, buoyed by the Greek parliament voting to adopt austerity measures and so averting bankruptcy.

The index fell 1.2 percent over the second quarter, on worries about economic growth and the euro zone peripheral debt crisis.

"There is relief Greece has not gone bad. But there is also nervousness as we look to see whether the U.S. consumer is showing may more confidence or not," said Justin Urquhart Stewart, director at Seven Investment Management.

"There is a recovery but it is lower and slower. Where does the growth come from? China is slowing. The market will go sideways. There is no impetus to push it up. Q2 corporate earnings should be good, but the outlook statements may not be so encouraging."

Banks were the biggest gainers, with the STOXX Europe 600 Banking Index up 0.7 percent. It is down 4 percent in 2011.

3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads .

Across Europe, Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.2 percent, Germany's DAX rose 0.1 percent and France's CAC40 was flat. The Thomson Reuters Peripheral Eurozone Countries Index was up 0.4 percent.

GROWTH WORRIES

The euro zone's manufacturing sector lost steam last month as growth in exports and domestic demand slowed to a trickle, while the region's weaker economies appear to be slipping back into recession, a survey showed.

Investor attentions will turn to PMI manufacturing and consumer confidence data in the United States.

It is "joyless times for many investors," said Jonathan Stubbs, strategist at Citigroup. "Flows to equities are discouraging. Equity hedge fund performance appears disappointing."

He cited low investor risk appetite and said the main economic risks were the sovereign crisis, U.S. slowdown and emerging market inflation.

It "means that the macro(economic) fog is very thick" and investor visibility and confidence was very low, he said, adding reduced economic uncertainty and collective action from equity hedge funds needing a performance boost could drive a sharp rally for European equities in the fourth quarter.

Among individual companies, Danish wind turbine maker Vestas rose 6.3 percent after signing a major framework deal to supply French renewable energy group EDF Energies Nouvelles with turbines from 2012-14.

Telecoms were among the losers, with heavyweight Vodafone down 0.6 percent after saying a $2.5 billion tax bill it faced in India could double. (Editing by Dan Lalor) For pan-Europeanmarket data and news, click on codes in brackets: European Equities speed guide................... FTSEurofirst 300 index.............................. STOXX Europe index.................................. Top 10 STOXX sectors........................... Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors...................... Top 10 Eurofirst 300 sectors................... Top 25 European pct gainers....................... Top 25 European pct losers........................

3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads .

Main stock markets: Dow Jones............... Wall Street report ..... Nikkei 225............. Tokyo report............ FTSE 100............... London report........... Xetra DAX............. CAC-40............... World Indices.....................................<0#.INDEX> Reuters survey of world bourse outlook......... Western European IPO diary......................... European Asset Allocation........................ Reuters News at a Glance: Equities................. Main currency report:.................................

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.