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European share markets, excepting UK's FTSE 100 index, fell for the third day this week after the European Central Bank and Bank of England kept official interest rates on hold to control inflation.
The status quo moves by the central banks saw a downturn in financial shares, with Barclays Plc leading the decline. In the interest rate announcement, the president of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, said that inflation in Europe is still high and "risks to growth prevail".
At the close of trading on Thursday, the FTSEurofirst 300 index of pan-European blue chips lost 1.230 points, or 0.090 percent, to close at 1,360.88, while the UK's FTSE 100 index gained 9.80 points, or 0.16 percent, to close at 6270.81.
France's CAC index lost 19.73 points, or 0.39 percent, to close at 5055.58, while, Germany's DAX index shed 4.35 points, or 0.06 percent, to close at 7071.90.
On the commodity markets, Brent Crude oil gained US$1.97 or 1.6 percent, to be worth US$122.46, while on the Forex Gold Index, gold added US$8.75, or 1 percent, to close at US$877.00.
(c) NewsRoom 2008
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