European Stock Markets Decline Ahead of Easter Holidays

European stock markets experienced a general downturn as trading activity slowed ahead of the Easter holidays. According to RTHK, the stock exchanges in the UK, France, and Germany will be closed on Friday and Monday due to Good Friday and Easter Monday. Germany's DAX index ended a three-day upward trend, closing at 23,168 points, a decrease of 130 points or approximately 0.6%. Similarly, France's CAC index fell by 18 points to 7,962 points, marking a decline of over 0.2%. In contrast, the UK's FTSE 100 index continued its four-day rise, closing at 10,436 points, up 71 points or about 0.7%, reaching a one-month high. For the week, the UK stock market rose by 4.7%, Germany's by approximately 3.9%, and France's by about 3.4%, with all three markets recording gains for two consecutive weeks.