European stock indexes were mixed on Thursday as global recession fears weighed on markets and soaring COVID-19 cases in China countered earlier optimism about the country dropping its strict zero-COVID policy.

Stocks sank in Asia and wavered in Europe on Thursday, with sentiment clouded by China's Covid surge.

Stock markets diverged on Wednesday as investors looked for a traditional "Santa Claus rally" to close the year.

European shares were subdued on Wednesday, while UK's FTSE 100 outpaced peers after a long Christmas holiday weekend as investors assessed Beijing's steps towards reopening its COVID-battered economy.

European and Asian markets advanced on Tuesday after China said it would end quarantines for overseas arrivals, spurring hopes for the revival of the world's second-largest economy.

European shares rose for a second straight session on Thursday, boosted by financial and energy stocks, as investors cheered improving consumer sentiment in the United States after inflation expectations eased.

European and US stocks traded higher Wednesday and the yen steadied after its biggest daily gain versus the dollar in 24 years following a shock Bank of Japan tweak to monetary policy.

European shares fell for the fifth straight session on Thursday, bogged down by weakness in telecom and real estate sectors amid growing fears of an impending recession.

Major stock markets suffered more selling Wednesday on growing fears that Federal Reserve monetary tightening will tip the US economy into recession.

European stock markets and oil prices steadied Friday before key US jobs data and an oil output decision by OPEC and its Russia-led allies.

European equities and the euro rose Wednesday as eurozone inflation slowed but remained elevated on high energy costs.

Paris' luxury-laden stock exchange is now worth more than London's. But although size matters, there are other indicators highlighting the UK capital's popularity with investors.

European equities mostly fell Thursday with London on tenterhooks before a painful UK budget set to rip up the country's economic forecasts.

European stock markets slid Wednesday, with investors spooked over a deadly missile blast in Poland near the border with Ukraine.

European shares fell on Wednesday, with Mercedes Benz Group leading losses in automobiles stocks, while a blast in Poland kept sentiment subdued and pushed up defence stocks.

The moment of truth is almost here for Britain's new prime minister Rishi Sunak and finance minister Jeremy Hunt.

European shares were nearly flat on Tuesday as a sharp decline in British telecom group Vodafone, after it slashed its full-year forecasts, eclipsed gains in the utilities sector.

Asian stocks fell on Thursday after inconclusive US midterm election results and a cryptocurrency crisis hammered markets.

European shares traded in a tight range on Tuesday as investors focussed on U.S.

European stocks rose on Tuesday and the positive market sentiment was set to continue on Wall Street, supported by speculation among investors that central banks could come to the end of their rate-hiking cycles.

U.S. stocks were mixed and European shares ended nearly flat on Thursday as investors balanced mixed earnings reports and economic data, while the pound retreated from mid-September highs.

European stocks pared losses on Thursday after the European Central Bank raised interest rates by 75 basis points, matching market expectations, and signalled the need for more hikes to bring down record-high inflation.

Barclays beat forecasts with a small rise in third-quarter profit on Wednesday lifted by a record performance in fixed income trading, but costs and loan charges crept higher in a sign of ongoing challenges.

The euro on Wednesday surged back above parity with the dollar, with the US currency sliding against its main rivals on concerns over the world's biggest economy.

European stocks and the pound climbed Monday as markets awaited confirmation that former finance minister Rishi Sunak would become Britain's new prime minister.

The British pound briefly surged more than one percent against the dollar to $1.1336, but later retreated somewhat.

British banks are bracing for a potential tax hit to their profits as the government scrambles to plug an estimated 40 billion pound ($45 billion) hole in its finances.

British inflation jumped back above 10 percent in September on soaring food prices, official data showed Wednesday.

Sterling rallied 1.1 percent to $1.1293 ahead of Jeremy Hunt's fiscal announcement due 1000 GMT.

The pound rallied and UK government bond yields rose Wednesday as the Bank of England came under criticism for fuelling market uncertainty.