French Stocks Slip, U.K. Gains ahead of Christmas Break

European shares were mixed Wednesday in a holiday-shortened session ahead of the Christmas break.

The U.K.’s FTSE 100 UKX, +0.18% closed 0.2% higher, helped by a 7.7% jump in Smith & Nephew SN., +7.71% shares. France’s CAC 40 PX1, -0.44% ended down 0.4%. The Stoxx Europe 600 SXXP, -0.05% edged down fractionally to snap a six-session winning streak.

Other main markets in Europe were closed. Read: When do European markets close at Christmas?

Shares in Europe have rebounded strongly in the runup to Christmas, recouping much of the losses made this month as concerns about falling oil prices and a financial crisis in Russia rocked markets.

Investors have been reassured by some solid economic data from the U.S., where the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.03% finished above 18,000 on Tuesday for the first time.

In currency markets, the euro EURUSD, +0.35% was a touch higher against the dollar at $1.2206, close to its recent 16-month low.

The ruble USDRUB, -2.97% was volatile after Standard & Poor’s said it was considering cutting Russia’s credit rating to below investment grade. The Russian currency swung back and forth before trading 0.7% stronger at 54.43 to the dollar.

Moscow’s Micex XX:MCX stock index was up 0.3% at 1,402.36.

In commodities markets, Brent crude oil LCOG5, -2.50% was down 2.6% at $60.10 a barrel.

Source: MarketWatch