European markets were mixed on Monday as a shortened trading week began in the run-up to Christmas.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was hovering above the flatline during early morning deals, with most sectors and all major bourses in negative territory.
Trading is expected to be relatively muted in the run-up to Christmas, with European markets set to be closed, or close early, for Christmas Eve and remain shut on Christmas Day.
Overnight, Asia-Pacific markets started the week on a positive note, with investors digesting a press conference relating to the merger of Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan.
The carmakers confirmed on Monday that they had begun merger talks. Shares of France’s Renault, which owns a minority stake in Nissan, were around 0.7% lower at 9:08 a.m. London time.
Back in Europe, revised figures showed the U.K. economy flatlined in the third quarter of the year, with GDP growing 0% in the three months to September.
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