Source: Sharecast
The pan-European Stoxx 600 index finished 0.09% lower at 592.24 on Wednesday after hitting record highs in the previous session.
Traders digested figures from China’s National Bureau of Statistics, which showed the manufacturing sector returns to growth at the end of the year.
The official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index rose to 50.1 in December from 49.2 the month before, beating economists' expectations for a flat reading and coming in above the 50.0 mark that separates contraction from expansion.
The composite PMI - which covers manufacturing and services - increased to 50.7 from 49.7. The non-manufacturing PMI - which covers services and construction - rose to 50.2 in December from 49.5 the month before.
Separately, a survey from RatingDog China also showed an improvement in the manufacturing sector.
The RatingDog China general manufacturing PMI rose to 50.1 this month from 49.9 in November. This marked the fourth improvement in the health of the sector over the past five months
Germany’s DAX was up 0.6%, France’s CAC fell 0.46 and the UK’s FTSE 100 was flat. With a shortened trading day and New Year’s Day holiday ahead, volumes were expected to be thin.
In equity news, Fresnillo shares led the fallers after posting a 6% jump on Tuesday driven by surging gold and silver prices.
Silver prices fell sharply today to $72.20 per ounce, falling back from the record high of $83.62 set on Monday on reports the CME futures exchange increased trading margins again. The precious metal has gained 145% over the year.
Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com