The Irish stock market has finished the year almost where it started after the final trading session of 2011.
In a shortened day of trading, the ISEQ index closed at 2,902, up 57 points (2%) on the day. This meant it ended the year down just 0.6%, having ended 2010 at 2,885. This was a better performance than most other European and Asian markets, many of which ended with double-digit percentage losses for the year.
London's FTSE dipped 0.1% to close at 5,572 in a half-day session, ending the year down 5.5%. Frankfurt's DAX added 0.9% today to close at 5,898, finishing the year down 14.7%.
In Paris the CAC gained 1% to 3,160, down 17% over the year. Milan's FTSE Mib rose 1.2% to 15.090, but over the year lost 25.2%.
Earlier, Tokyo's Nikkei index finished 2011 at its lowest year-end level since 1982, despite rising on the day thanks to recent positive US economic data.
The Nikkei finished at 8,455, up 0.7% on the day, but down 17.3% from the 2010 close of 10,228, as the March 11 earthquake and tsunami took their toll on share prices. In 1982, the index finished the year at 8,017.
Hong Kong shares suffered their biggest annual loss since the financial crisis three years ago due to mounting fears about China, a global recession and heightened volatility in financial markets.
The Hang Seng index finished up 0.2% on the day, but closed the year down 20% at 18,434.39.
