Global Markets: European Shares Lower After Vaccine Shots Dull COVID Economic Pain

LONDON: European shares opened lower on Thursday after gains spurred by advances in vaccines to fight COVID-19 , but data across Europe underscored the economic damage still being caused by the pandemic.
Markets were keeping an eye on talks between Britain and the European Union on a trade deal, with less than a month to go before the UK’s full departure from the EU.
The STOXX index of European companies was flat, dragged down by a 0.2% drop in Frankfurt and Paris blue chips.
A Reuters polls forecast the euro zone economy would shrink again this quarter as renewed lockdown measures stifled activity, with the economy taking two years to regain pre-crisis levels.
BREXIT END GAMEBritain’s education minister, Gavin Williamson, said good progress was being made in talks with the European Union on a trade deal as the Brexit deadline approaches.

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