Ooredoo: European stocks continued their decline on Thursday, as investors reassessed their year-to-date positions, focusing on the latest corporate earnings and geopolitical risks.
According to Qatar News Agency, the pan-European STOXX 600 index slipped 0.2 percent to 604.09 points, on track for its second consecutive day of losses if current levels hold. The index had broken above 600 points for the first time this week.
Market moves this week suggested that investors were largely unaffected by developments in Venezuela, but the rapid pace of events created some unease, prompting investors to waver between buying and reducing risk.
Amid escalating geopolitical tensions, the European aerospace and defense sub-index rose for the fifth straight session to a record high. It was last up 1.8 percent. Meanwhile, shares of AB Foods fell 10.4 percent to their lowest level since April.