China stock slump weighs on global markets
By The Associated Press, Associated Press
Nov 23, 2017 6:52 AM CST
Currency traders watch monitors at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017. Asian stock markets were largely flat on Thursday with investors in the U.S. markets going on a Thanksgiving holiday and the Fed minutes largely in line...   (Associated Press)

LONDON (AP) — European stock markets were weighed down Thursday by the earlier slump in China's main stock market to its lowest level since September. Trading levels were relatively modest though with U.S. markets closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.

KEEPING SCORE: In Europe, Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.1 to 7,410 while Germany's DAX dipped 0.2 percent to 12,995. France's CAC 40 outperformed its counterparts, trading up 0.6 percent at 5,384.

CHINA SLIDE: Chinese stocks fell sharply on reports that the government is moving to rein in online lending firms. Investors also pulled back after Hong Kong's Hang Seng index hit a 10-year high Wednesday to take profits. The Shanghai Composite Index sank 2.3 percent to 3,351.92, its lowest level since September, while the Hang Seng slumped 1 percent to 29,707.94.

ANALYST TAKE: "Sentiment in China was dented by Beijing halting approvals for all new online lending companies to curb a credit bubble," said Mike van Dulken at Accendo Markets.

REST OF ASIA: Other Asian markets finished generally flat. South Korea's Kospi finished 0.1 percent lower at 2,537.15 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 finished unchanged at 5,986.20. Stocks in Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries were mixed. Japan was closed for a holiday.

EUROZONE BOOMING: The 19-country eurozone is set for its best quarterly performance since early 2011, according to a closely watched survey Thursday, the latest sign that a robust economy has gained further momentum heading into the year's end. Financial information company IHS Markit said its purchasing managers' index — a broad gauge of business activity across the manufacturing and services sectors — rose to 57.5 points in November from 56 the previous month. Anything above 50 indicates an expansion and the index now stands at its highest level since April 2011.

FED: Minutes of the Fed's last meeting that ended Nov. 1 showed that most officials generally believe it will soon be time for another increase in the Fed's key interest rate. A few Fed leaders think rates should stay where they are until there is more evidence inflation is rising, showing the concerns the U.S. inflation rate is falling short of expectations despite the jobless rate falling to the lowest level in nearly 17 years. But the minutes did not change expectations of a December rate hike, analysts said.

OIL: The price of oil retreated after a jump on reports that key oil producers might extend the cuts in production they made at the start of this year. U.S. crude fell 20 cents to $57.82 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange while Brent crude, used to price international oils, lost 31 cents to $63.01 per barrel in London.

CURRENCIES: The euro rose 0.2 percent to $1.1844 while the dollar was unchanged at 111.21 yen.

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