European shares fell in holiday-thinned trading on Monday as risk sentiment took a blow from the Omicron variant of COVID-19 driving up infections around the world. The pan-European STOXX 600 fell 0.2pc as of 0816 GMT, following a mixed session for Asian shares. Banks and tech firms were among the biggest decliners in the benchmark, while oil stocks tracked lower crude prices. Britain, Australia and Hong Kong markets were closed for holidays, while Wall Street will resume trading later in the session following a holiday on Friday. Among individual stocks, high-tech industrial group Groupe Gorge rose 1pc after confirming an indicative offer for its acquisition of iXblue.

Source: Irish Independent December 27, 2021 11:37 UTC