European stock markets limped to the end of another grim year this afternoon, nursing losses of up to 45% over 12 months.
There was little year-end celebration in dealing rooms across Europe with most regulars still away from their desks between the Christmas and New Year's Day holidays.
In London, the FTSE 100 index of leading shares closed a shortened session up 1% at 3,940, leaving it down about 25% over the year, the biggest annual drop in its 17-year history. The index is down over 40% from its all-time high in December 1999.
In Dublin, the ISEQ closed down 22 points at 3995, down by 30% for the year as a whole.
The Paris CAC stood at 3,087, down by about one third over the year. Frankfurt's DAX, which was closed today, fared even worse, plunging 44% over 12 months.
