(Sharecast News) – European stocks finished mostly higher on Thursday, despite fears over a slowdown in global growth as a result of the Delta variant of Covid-19.
Boosting investor sentiment, the European Central Bank announced a “moderate” reduction in its emergency bond buying programme, known as PEPP, for over the last quarter of 2021 – but said it was only a “recalibration”.
“While some may be concerned that this is tapering under a different guise, it seems the markets are unconcerned given that the ongoing QE programme which will likely run for some time yet,” said IG senior market analyst Josh Mahony.
“Instead, we saw the euro decline and eurozone markets head higher, with the promise of a supportive ECB helping to overshadow the decision to slightly dial down the emergency PEPP programme.”
The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was down 0.06% at 467.57, alongside a 1.03% drop to 7,022.62 for the UK’s FTSE 100.
Germany’s DAX on the other hand rose 0.08% to 15,623.15.
In equity news, British budget airline easyJet slumped 10% after it revealed plans to raise £1.2bn and said it…
