© Archyde.com European stocks are down and poised for their worst annual performance since 2018
European stocks fell at the beginning of the last trading sessions of 2022, led by technology stocks, with markets in the United Kingdom and Germany preparing to close trading early Friday.
European stocks are heading towards recording the worst annual performance since 2018 in light of the repercussions of the war in Ukraine and central banks around the world tightening monetary policy due to high inflation.
In general, European stocks outperformed their American counterparts this year, supported by the rise recorded in the fourth quarter amid hopes that slowing inflation will affect central banks.
The Stoxx Europe 600 index fell by 0.42% to 428 points, bringing its recorded losses during the current year to more than 12%, in the worst annual performance since 2018.
The British “FTSE 100” index fell by 0.37% to 7,485 points, as did the German “DAX” by 0.6% at 13,987 points, and the French “CAC” by 0.52% at 6,539 points.