European stocks close higher with U.S. stimulus, Brexit in focus

By Amwal Al Ghad English On Dec 5, 2020

European stock markets stocks — European stock markets

European stocks closed higher on Friday as investors monitored prospects of a U.S. stimulus package and a last-minute Brexit trade deal.

European markets closed higher on Friday as investors monitored prospects of a U.S. stimulus package and a last-minute Brexit trade deal.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed up 0.6 percent, with oil and gas stocks climbing 3.1 percent to lead gains after OPEC+ members agreed on Thursday to increase production by 500,000 barrels per day beginning in January. Retail stocks declined by 0.5 percent.

European stocks received a mixed handover from Asia-Pacific after the Pentagon added more Chinese firms to a blacklist of alleged Chinese military companies.