FTSE Eurofirst 300 index eased 1.6% to close at 1004.4.
DJIA eased 1.0% or 104.1 points to 10,286.0. NASDAQ fell 0.8% or 16.6 points to 2,173.0. S&P 500 index closed 1.0% lower, at 1,091.9.

Nikkei 225 index is trading 1.3% lower, at 10,004.1.
In Asia, crude oil for January delivery is trading 55 cents higher at $73.17 per barrel.
Other European markets finished lower yesterday, as troubles flared once again in the financial sector, amid worries over banks’ exposure to Dubai World and ratings downgrade for Greece. Greek Banks, National Bank of Greece, Piraeus Bank and EFG Eurobank, fell between 6.5% and 10%, after Fitch Ratings cut Greece’s debt rating to “BBB+” with a negative outlook. The banking sector also came under pressure, amid fears about the size of losses facing Nakheel, a unit of Dubai World. Irish banks, Allied Irish Banks, Bank of Ireland and Irish Life & Permanent, were down between 4.5% and 8.8%, as valuation concerns of bank’s toxic assets grew. Investor sentiment took a further hit, as German industrial output unexpectedly fell 1.8% in October, against market expectations of a rise. FTSE Eurofirst 300 index eased 1.6% to close at 1004.4. German DAX Xetra 30 slipped 1.7% or 96.2 points to 5,688.6. French CAC-40 edged down 1.4% or 54.8 points to settle at 3,785.3. 

Posted by Greg Secker

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