ROME: European stock markets closed mostly lower on Thursday but managed to eke out modest gains in the Easter-shortened week. European markets are closed Friday and Monday for the Easter holidays.
Thursday’s trading action was marked by the markets flitting between small gains and losses as investors appeared reluctant to take any sizable positions ahead of the holidays and the closely watched U.S. nonfarm payrolls, which will be released on Good Friday.
The Stoxx Europe 600 index SXXP, -0.18% slipped 0.2% to 397.80, paring its weekly gain to roughly 0.6%.
Other indexes: Germany’s DAX 30 index DAX, -0.28% lost 0.3% to 11,967.39, but was on track for a weekly advance of 0.8%.
France’s CAC 40 index PX1, +0.24% stood out as one the few gainers in Thursday trading, tacking on about 0.2% to 5,074.14, and ending the week up about 0.8%. The FTSE also gained on the day.
