Europe and Global Markets Lower Thursday

In Europe, market indexes were broadly lower Thursday as global economic data continued to weigh on stock valuations. The two main large-cap indexes, the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 were both lower. The FTSE 100 closed at 6,112.02 for a loss of -73.57 points or -1.19 percent. The FTSE 250 closed at 16,659.44 for a loss of -70.65 points or -0.42 percent.

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Source: Google Finance. FTSE 100 and FTSE 250

Higher oil prices slightly helped energy stocks Thursday which gained above other sectors however concerns over economic weakening and China’s economy continued to lead stocks lower. Financial services stocks also gained as insurance companies’ showed to be slightly higher and Insurance group Esure reported positive earnings. However these gains could not help keep stock returns above zero as most all other sectors fell broadly.

Data from IFA magazine, reported the following stocks leading losses in the U.K. for Thursday.

Henderson Group (HGG) 239.20 points -3.55 percent

Shawbrook Group (SHAW) 282.30 p -3.32 percent

McCarthy & Stone (MCS) 218.50 p -2.89 percent

OneSavings Bank (OSB) 277.10 p -2.77 percent

SIG (SHI) 125.60 p -2.48 percent

Micro Focus International (MCRO) 1,539.00 p -2.29 percent

Just Eat (JE.) 401.80 p -2.00 percent

Interserve (IRV) 395.80 p -1.96 percent

Supergroup (SGP) 1,223.00 p -1.77 percent

Investec (INVP) 483.70 p -1.75 percent

 

In other European markets, France’s CAC 40 closed at 4,324.23 for a loss of -1.09 percent. Germany’s DAX closed at 9,828.25 for a loss of -98.52 points or -0.99 percent.

In Asia, China’s Shanghai Composite closed at 2,991.27 for a loss of -1.37 points or -0.05 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed at Hang Seng closed at 20,525.83 for a loss of -151.11 points or -0.73 percent. The S & P BSE Sensex closed at 25,101.73 for a loss of -127.97 points or -0.51 percent. Japan’s market was close.

In the U.S. markets followed the eastern hemisphere’s lead with stocks mostly falling Thursday. the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 17,660.44 and was flat for the day with a 0.05 percent gain. The S&P 500 was also flat, closing at 2,050.61 for a gain of 0.51 points or 0.02 percent. The Nasdaq Composite closed lower for the day at 4,717.09 for a loss of 8.55 points or 0.18 percent.