European Markets Rise On Last Trading Day Of 2014

(RTTNews) - The European markets were firm in thin trade on the last day of 2014, while Germany, Switzerland, Italy and the Nordic countries remained closed for the day. Many of the markets are functioning half-day, owing to the New Year Eve.

On a day of little economic news, data from the Bank of England showed housing equity withdrawal by individuals in the U.K. decreased further in the third quarter. Housing equity withdrawal, or HEW, fell to -10.87 billion pounds in the third quarter from -10.56 billion pounds in the second quarter.

The Euro Stoxx 50 index of eurozone bluechip stocks was up 0.27 percent, while the Stoxx Europe 50 index, which includes some major U.K. companies, was gaining 0.23 percent.

The French CAC 40 was gaining 0.55 percent and the FTSE 100 index of the U.K. added 0.26 percent.

In Paris, Essilor International added 1.5 percent and Schneider Electric rose 1.4 percent.

Safran and Carrefour advanced 1.3 percent each.

Lenders BNP Paribas, Societe Generale and Credit Agricole gained moderately.

In London, ARM Holdings added 2 percent, Taylor Wimpey climbed 1.9 percent and Hargreaves Lansdown advanced 1.8 percent.

Aberdeen Asset Management and SAB Miller climbed 1.7 percent each.

Insurer Old Mutual rose 1.6 percent and temporary power supply provider Aggreko was adding 1.5 percent.

The Asian stocks turned in a mixed performance on the last trading day of 2014, as oil prices extended declines and concerns over Greece's future in the euro zone continued to drag on sentiment. Trading activity remained relatively thin due to holidays in Indonesia, Japan and South Korea.

In the U.S., futures point to a higher open on Wall Street. In the previous session, stocks ended in the red as continued concerns over political uncertainty in Greece overshadowed mostly positive reports on consumer confidence and home prices.

The Dow slid 0.3 percent, the S&P 500 shed half a percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq dropped 0.6 percent.

Crude for February delivery dropped $0.86 to $53.26 per barrel, while February gold slipped $2.6 to $1197.8 a troy ounce.