European Markets Finished Mostly Lower On Commodity Weakness

(RTTNews) - The majority of the European markets ended Monday's session in the red. Most markets reopened after the Christmas holiday Friday, but the FTSE of the U.K. was closed today for the Boxing Day holiday. The trading week will also be shortened by the New Year's Day holiday on Friday. As a result, trading activity will likely be on the light side, with many investors away from their desks.

There has been little economic data to drive trading at the start of the week. Weakness in commodity prices, especially in crude oil, has weighed on investor sentiment today. The drop in the Chinese stock market also contributed to the negative mood.

The Euro Stoxx 50 index of eurozone bluechip stocks decreased 0.85 percent, while the Stoxx Europe 50 index, which includes some major U.K. companies, lost 0.52 percent.

The DAX of Germany declined 0.69 percent and the CAC 40 of France fell 0.97 percent. The SMI of Switzerland finished higher by 0.39 percent and the FTSE of the U.K. was closed.

In Frankfurt, RWE dropped 2.71 percent and E.ON weakened by 1.21 percent.

ThyssenKrupp surrendered 2.47 percent and Salzgitter fell 2.49 percent.

Volkswagen declined 1.22 percent and BMW decreased 1.22 percent. Daimler finished lower by 0.69 percent and Continental lost 1.24 percent.

In Paris, Total decreased 1.72 percent and Technip lost 2.17 percent.

Peugeot dropped 1.86 percent and Renault surrendered 1.94 percent. Car parts maker Valeo also weakened by 1.29 percent.

Credit Agricole tumbled 1.93 percent and BNP Paribas fell 1.76 percent. Societe Generale also finished down by 1.20 percent.

ArecelorMittal dropped 5.21 percent in Amsterdam.

Profits earned by Chinese industrial enterprises decreased for the sixth consecutive month in November, figures from the National Bureau of Statistics showed Monday.

Industrial profits fell 1.4 percent year-over-year in November, but slower than the 4.6 percent decrease in the preceding month.

Industrial production in Japan was down a seasonally adjusted 1.0 percent on month in November, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in Monday's preliminary reading - falling for the first time in three months. That missed forecasts for a decline of 0.5 percent following the 1.4 percent gain in October.

Also on Monday, the METI said that the total value of retail sales in Japan was down 1.0 percent on year in November. That missed forecasts for a decline of 0.1 percent following the 1.8 percent increase in October.