LONDON: European shares hit a near 15-month closing peak on Wednesday, but gains were capped after US data showed sales of newly built single-family homes unexpectedly fell to their lowest level in seven months.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares ended 0.2 percent higher at 1,037.34 points, the highest close since Oct. 3 last year, after ranging between 1,034.25 and 1,041.21 points in thin pre-Christmas trading.
Across Europe, Britain’s FTSE 100 index, Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC-40 rose 0.2-0.8 percent.
Wall Street stocks wobbled Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 12.70 points (0.12 percent) to 10,452.23 at 1605 GMT, reversing course after a modestly positive opening.
The technology-rich Nasdaq composite climbed 5.92 points (0.26 percent) to 2,258.59 while the broad-market Standard & Poor’s 500 index edged down a fractional 0.14 points (0.01 percent) to 1,117.88.
Asian stock markets were mostly higher Wednesday. China’s benchmark Shanghai Composite Index rose 12.70 points, or 0.5 percent, to 3,064.29, while Sydney’s S&P/ASX added 0.6 percent to 4,731.8. Tokyo was closed for a holiday after the benchmark Nikkei 225 added 1.91 percent on Tuesday.
Hong Kong bucked the regional trend, with its Hang Seng Composite Index shedding 10.21, or 0.1 percent, to 21,081.83.
Meanwhile, oil traded above $75 on Wednesday.
US crude for February rose 93 cents to $75.33 a barrel by 1429 GMT in thin pre-holiday trade, after touching as high as $75.49. Prices have gained almost $6 since Dec. 13.
London Brent crude for February rose 57 cents to $74.03.
