Skip Header
Important information: The value of investments can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. Investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. This is a third-party news feed and may not reflect Fidelity’s views.

Europe open: Shares higher on final trading day of 2023

(Sharecast News) - European shares opened higher on the last trading day of the year amid thin volumes and no real corporate news of note to drive trading. The pan-regional Stoxx 600 index was up 0.27% at 479.36 with all major bourses higher after a mixed session in Asia.

Crude oil prices moved slightly higher after a fall in US inventories. Brent crude was trading just above $77 a barrel, still well below levels of the last two years despite geopolitical tensions and production cuts by major suppliers.

"The price has whipsawed this year as expectations of sluggish demand, inventory build ups and conflicts in key locations all amalgamated into volatility. The overall theme of the year though seems to indicate that heat has come out of the price for now - but that can change at very short notice," said Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Sophie Lund-Yates.

In economic news, UK house prices fell by a higher-than-expected 1.8% year on year in December, mortgage lender Nationwide said on Friday.

Expectations were for a 1.4% fall. Prices remained flat on a monthly basis.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com

Share this article

Related Sharecast Articles

London open: Markets rise after PBoC rate cut, but airline stocks fall
(Sharecast News) - UK stocks edged higher on Monday morning as markets reacted to a surprise interest-rate cut in China, while investors digested the latest political drama across the Pond.
Europe open: Shares up as investors mull Biden withdrawal
(Sharecast News) - European shares opened higher on Monday as investors assessed the impact of US President Joe Biden's decision not to contest the election in November.
London pre-open: Gains expected as markets react to tumultuous weekend
(Sharecast News) - UK stocks are expected to rise on Monday morning as investors reacted to a flurry of market-moving news over the weekend, such as the exit of Joe Biden from the US presidential race, a reduction in interest rates in China and ongoing global IT outages.
FTSE 100 movers: Airlines pace declines at the end of the week
(Sharecast News) - Airline shares weighed on the top flight index at the end of the week after falling afoul of a cascade of IT glitches around the world triggered by a update from cyber security outfit Crowdstrike.

Important information: This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice. When you are thinking about investing in shares, it’s generally a good idea to consider holding them alongside other investments in a diversified portfolio of assets. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

Award-winning online share dealing

Search, compare and select from thousands of shares.

Expert insights into investing your money

Our team of experts explore the world of share dealing.