Sruthi Shankar

French stocks led losses across European markets on Monday after a surprise ratings downgrade by Moody's, while signs of easing strain on euro zone business activity failed to enthuse investors.

European stocks slipped on Friday, taking the main benchmark to its first weekly decline in three, as investors sought clarity on the pace of monetary easing in the euro zone next year amid concerns over slowing economic growth and a potential trade war.

European stocks settled lower on Thursday, after the European Central Bank cut interest rates by 25 basis points as expected, and left the door open for further easing to support a struggling economy amid heightened political risks.

European shares closed at their highest levels in six-weeks on Monday, led by mining and luxury stocks, after a promise of renewed stimulus to support China's slowing economy.

Britain's FTSE 100 gained for a fifth straight session on Tuesday as higher oil prices lifted energy shares, while SSP surged after the Upper Crust owner raised hopes of an improvement at its continental European business.

The UK's blue-chip FTSE 100 rose to a near two-week high on Thursday, as a dip in sterling and rise in Halma's shares offset a slump in JD Sports after it issued a profit warning.

European shares kicked off the week on a dour note, weighed down by declines in real estate stocks, while investors studied speeches from European Central Bank policymakers to assess the future direction of interest rates.

O mercado acionário europeu iniciou a semana de forma negativa, pressionadas pela queda das ações do setor imobiliário, enquanto os investidores estudavam os discursos de autoridades do Banco Central Europeu para avaliar a direção futura das taxas de juros.

Britain's main stock indexes rose on Monday, joining a broad rally in European markets, as investors awaited key economic data this week for clues on the path of U.S. and British monetary policy.

Europe's benchmark STOXX 600 logged its third consecutive week of declines on Friday, hurt by underwhelming stimulus measures from China as well as concerns about tariffs under a Trump presidency hurting economic growth.