(menafn – ecpulse)
European shares fell mostly at the close on Wednesday, as pessimism took the wheel after two key reports showed that U.S. companies added fewer jobs than forecasted to the private payrolls and euro-area unemployment rose to 15-year high.
The benchmark index for Europe, the STOXX 600 ended lower by 0.38% at 257.39, and STOXX 50 ended down by 0.40% at 2406.08. All western European markets except the U.K., Ireland and Denmark were closed yesterday for May Day Holiday.
CAC 40 Index
The French index added 13.53 points or 0.42% to finally close at 3226.33. The index started the session at 3265.12 and recorded throughout the day its highest level at 3267.07 and its lowest level at 3208.42.
Best performing stocks within the index were the LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA share which inclined 2.60% to settle at €128.40, in second place came the Sanofi share which closed higher by 0.97% at €58.22 and in the third place came the L'Oreal SA share which inclined 1.86% to settle at €92.58.
The worst performing shares in terms of subtracted value for the index were led by the BNP Paribas SA share as it plummeted 1.00% to end at €30.04, following is the AXA SA share as it shed 1.54% to settle at €10.54, while coming in third is the France Telecom SA share which slumped 0.92% to close at €10.24.
DAX Index
German equities retreated today as the benchmark index DAX 30 closed the session lower by 50.42 points or 0.75% at 6710.77. The index started the session at 6861.30 and recorded throughout the day its highest level at 6875.87 and its lowest level at 6664.57.
The worst performing shares in terms of subtracted value for the index were led by the Deutsche Bank AG share as it plummeted 2.46% to end at €32.06, following is the ThyssenKrupp AG share as it shed 2.46% to settle at €17.46, while coming in third is the Commerzbank AG share which slumped 2.45% to close at €1.60.
Best performing stocks within the index were the Fresenius SE & Co KGaA share which rallied 2.82% to settle at €77.53, in second place came the HeidelbergCement AG share which closed higher by 2.50% at €42.57 and in the third place came the Deutsche Lufthansa AG share which inclined 0.75% to settle at €9.90.
FTSE 100 Index
The British benchmark index ended the day lower to settle at 5758.11 with a loss of 54.12 points or 0.93%. The index started the session at 5812.23 and recorded throughout the day its highest level at 5819.93 and its lowest level at 5736.64.
The worst performing shares in terms of subtracted value for the index were led by the Barclays PLC share as it plummeted 5.55% to end at £213.65, following is the BP PLC share as it shed 1.70% to settle at £433.80, while coming in third is the Standard Chartered PLC share which slumped 3.90% to close at £1453.00.
Best performing stocks within the index were the Diageo PLC share which inclined 1.27% to settle at £1590.00, in second place came the legal & General Group PLC share which closed higher by 2.27% at £121.80 and in the third place came the Burberry Group PLC share which inclined 2.27% to settle at £1515.00.
