European shares slip as business activity data underwhelms

The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, December 27, 2022. REUTERS/Staff EZ Jan business activity returns to growth -PMI Swatch Group up, says positive on China recovery Norwegian salmon farmers jump on tax cut hope Jan 24 (Reuters) – European stocks reversed early gains on Tuesday as better-than-expected business activity data in the euro zone failed to excite investors worried about further interest rate hikes by the European Central Bank (ECB). The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) dropped 0.1% despite a strong finish on Wall Street where battered technology stocks continued their rebound. S&P Global’s flash Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) climbed to 50.2 this month from 49.3 in December , adding to signs the downturn in the bloc may not be as deep as feared and that the currency union may escape recession. While the bloc’s dominant services index also surprised on the upside, factory activity still declined. "Manufacturing activity may have shrunk the least in five months, but the sector is still contracting," said Susannah Streeter, senior investment and markets analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown. "The realisation is washing over investors that although this is more progress there is still […]

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