(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Europe's main stock markets fell slightly yesterday at the end of a turbulent week for equities and other financial markets, triggered by concerns over the Chinese and Greek economies.
London's benchmark FTSE 100 index dipped 0.27 percent to end the day at 6,550.74 points. In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 dropped 0.27 percent to 10,985.14 points, while the CAC 40 in Paris lost 0.61 percent to close at 4,956.47.
Greek lawmakers finally voted through the country's third international bailout early yesterday after a bitter all-night debate, but it gave no boost to Athens stocks which closed down 1.85 percent.
In foreign exchange, the euro slumped to $1.1110 from $1.1152 late in New York on Thursday.
US stocks mostly rose following US data that showed slightly stronger-than-expected wholesale inflation Around mid-day in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood 0.22 percent lower at 17,447.71 points. The broad-based S&P 500 edged up 0.10 percent to 2,085.52 points, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 0.14 percent to 5,026.38.
Asian markets mainly fell, weighed down by jitters over the impact of China's yuan devaluation and a fall in oil dragged down energy stocks, while Shanghai rose on hopes for more market intervention.
Tokyo ended down 0.37 percent, or 76.10 points, at 20,519.45 and Sydney lost 0.58 percent, or 31.37 points, to 5,356.50. Seoul's financial markets were closed for a public holiday. Hong Kong fell 0.13 percent, or 27.77 points, to end the day at 23,991.03.
Asian shares fluctuated throughout the day as investors weighed the impact of a surprise devaluation of the yuan by China this week that has roiled global financial markets.
"The yuan devaluation and prospects of an impending rate increase by the Fed have created a very volatile market environment," Jonathan Ravelas, chief market strategist at Manila-based BDO Unibank, told Bloomberg News. "That's made many investors risk adverse."
Investors hoped the surprise devaluation of the yuan heralded more economic support from Beijing. Adding to those hopes, China's market regulator pledged after the close to stabilise the volatile stock market for a "number of years" and vowed a longer-term role for state-backed company tasked with buying shares. The Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.27 percent to 3,965.34.
In other markets, Wellington fell 0.72 percent, or 41.25 points, to 5,696.45. Taipei closed flat, losing 6.1 points to 8,305.64. Jakarta ended flat, adding 1.141 points to 4,585.39. Singapore closed 0.73 percent, or 22.47 points, higher at 3,114.25. Kuala Lumpur fell 1.53 percent, or 24.80 points, to close at 1,596.82. Bangkok added 0.70 percent, or 9.77 points, to 1,413.92 Mumbai rose 1.88 percent, or 517.78 points, to 28,067.31 points. Vedanta Ltd rose 3.73 percent to Rs107.20, while drug maker Dr Reddy's Laboratories fell 0.75 percent to Rs4,258.05.
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