ROME: Europe’s main stock markets have closed mixed in subdued deals, unable to rebound after two days of losses, as caution prevailed over Greece’s debt crisis.
In the eurozone, the CAC 40 in Paris closed up 0.1 per cent at 5,086.74 points, while Frankfurt’s DAX 30 slipped 0.1 per cent to 11,512.11 points.
London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index of top companies lost 0.2 per cent to end the day at 6,655.01 points despite gainers such as British publisher Pearson, which announced that it was selling its flagship business daily the Financial Times to Japanese digital media group Nikkei.
Pearson jumped 2.1 per cent after announcing the FT Group, which also includes FT.com, would be sold for around $A1.8 billion in cash.
In foreign exchange, the euro firmed to $US1.0966 from $US1.0926 late in New York on Wednesday, as Greece took another step closer to securing a bailout following the Greek parliament’s approval of a second batch of reforms.
Analysts said a raft of earnings reports from European companies has left investors uncertain.
“The FTSE 100 is broadly unchanged as the market struggles to make its mind up,” IG analyst David Madden said.
“A lack of pessimism does not constitute optimism, and that is exactly what equity markets are experiencing today, as traders do not know which way to look.
“After several days of declines, traders don’t hold a particularly strong view in either direction.”
The region’s indices had opened with initial gains after the Greek reform bill passed by a resounding 230 votes out of the 298 members of parliament present, after a marathon debate stretching into the early hours.
The vote was a key test of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ authority after he suffered a major rebellion in his leftist Syriza party at last week’s vote on a first tranche of tough reforms demanded by Athens’ creditors.
