European Stocks Close Weak As West Asia Tensions Rise

BRUSSELS, April 14 (Bernama-dpa-AFX) -- European stocks fell on Monday as growth worries resurfaced on rising oil prices following the beginning of a US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, reported dpa-AFX.

Brent crude futures soared to US$103.87 a barrel, gaining nearly 9 per cent before easing a bit to US$101.50, still up by a sharp 6.5 per cent.

The pan European Stoxx 600 ended down 0.16 per cent. The United Kingdom's FTSE 100 closed 0.17 per cent down, while Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 closed lower by 0.26 per cent and 0.29 per cent, respectively. Switzerland's SMI finished with a loss of 0.28 per cent.

Among other markets in Europe, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Turkey closed weak. Finland, the Netherlands and Russia ended higher, while Poland closed little changed from the previous close.

--BERNAMA-dpa-AFX