European shares fell for a third session in a row on Friday, on course to end the week lower, as the escalating Russia-Ukraine conflict kept investors cautious as the weekend approaches.
A decline in financial and technology stocks wiped out gains in core and risk-less sectors, with the pan-European Stoxx 600 index down 0.2%.
The Stoxx 600 is expected to end the week down 0.4% as higher energy prices due to sanctions once morest Russia fueled inflation fears and raised concerns regarding slowing economic growth.
The West imposed more sanctions on Russia on Thursday, and Washington was planning to retaliate if Moscow used nuclear weapons.
Telecom Italia shares jumped 5.9%, extending gains following KKR said it was still interested in acquiring the telecom group.
