Sun, Jun 26, 2005 - Page 10 News List

Surging oil prices drag down major European indexes

AFP , LONDON

Surging oil prices weighed heavily on European share trading on Friday, dampening sentiment and sparking declines on all major exchanges.

The London FTSE 100 index fell 0.69 percent to end the week at 5,079 while in Paris the CAC 40 shed 0.95 percent to close at 4,199.87. The Frankfurt DAX plunged 1.32 percent to 4,566.48.

The Euro STOXX 50 index of leading eurozone shares dropped 0.93 percent to 3,161.

On the currency market the euro clawed back some territory lost to the US dollar on Friday on disappointing US economic data.

The single European currency in late trade was at US$1.2086 after US$1.2035 late Thursday in New York.

US stocks traded lower as investors remained focused on skyrocketing energy costs that prompted a big selloff on Wall Street a day earlier.

Investors were assessing the situation after the major indexes all declined more than 1 percent on Thursday following a spike in crude oil futures to US$60 a barrel, an all-time high.

Oil futures opened slightly higher in New York at US$59.55 a barrel.

"The market remains transfixed on crude and on earnings warnings. It is tough to expect a turnaround Friday, but stability would be well received," said Marc Pado, US market strategist at Cantor Fitzgerald.

In London British Airways, after announcing another fuel surtax increase to cope with soaring crude prices, fell 1.16 percent to finish at ?2.7575.

Other big oil consumers also suffered. Chemicals group ICI gave up 4.04 percent to reach ?2.5525 while cruise operator Carnival lost 0.95 percent to close at ?31.42.

A decline in base metals prices hit the mining sector. Rio Tinto fell 2.28 percent to ?16.73 while Anglo American dropped 2.21 percent to ?12.86.

In Paris telecommunications equipment maker Alcatel fell 3.39 percent to 9.11 euros after analysts lowered their profit margin forecast for the group to 9.1 percent.

Elsewhere in the sector Capgemini shed 1.27 percent to close at 26.48 euros while Thomson dropped 1.20 percent to 20.60 euros.

Among the day's biggest losers were tiremaker Michelin, down 2.12 percent to 50.70 euros, and the television network TF1, which fell 2.10 percent to 21.94 euros.

In Frankfurt semi-conductor maker Infineon gave up 3.40 percent to reach 7.67 euros following disappointing quarterly results from US competitor Micron Technology.

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