European Markets Mixed In Thin Trade; PostNL Surges

(RTTNews) - The European markets were mixed in thin trade on the day prior to Christmas, with many of them, including the U.K., France and the Netherlands, open only for half the trading session. Meanwhile, the German market is closed all day, along with Switzerland and Italy.

On a light day for economic news, the British Bankers' Association said UK house purchase approvals unexpectedly declined in November, after a rebound in the previous month.

The number of approvals for house purchase fell to a seasonally adjusted 44,960 from 45,463 in October, revised from 45,437. Economists had forecast a higher figure of 46,000.

The Euro Stoxx 50 index of eurozone bluechip stocks fell 0.15 percent, while the Stoxx Europe 50 index, which includes some major U.K. companies, slid 0.28 percent.

The French CAC 40 fell 0.3 percent, while the FTSE 100 index of the U.K. rose 0.1 percent.

In Paris, oil field services provider Technip and drug maker Sanofi dropped 1.4 percent each. Airbus, Carrefour and Orange were notably lower.

Meanwhile, Credit Agricole advanced moderately, along with EDF and Engie.

In London, BG Group, BP and Royal Dutch Shell gained between 1.5 percent and 1.2 percent.

BHP, Anglo American and Rio Tinto also were trading above the unchanged line.

In Amsterdam, Dutch mail-delivery company PostNL NV surged 13 percent, as the holiday season moved to its peak.

Meanwhile, Belgian real estate company Banimmo tanked 8.2 percent after it decided not to pay dividend for 2015.

The Asian stocks ended mixed as regional gains were tempered by losses in mainland China and Japan before the holiday period.

In the U.S., futures point to a guarded open on Wall Street to the shortened session. In the previous session, the Dow climbed 1.1 percent, the tech-heavy Nasdaq rose 0.9 percent and the S&P 500 advanced 1.2 percent.

Crude for February delivery rose $0.16 to $37.68 per barrel, while February gold added $4.5 to $1072.8 a troy ounce.