European equities struggling for direction
- STOXX 600 down 0.1%
- Energy leads, Autos lag
- Wall St futures higher
EUROPEAN EQUITIES STRUGGLING FOR DIRECTION
Major European equity markets are mixed on Thursday as investors await new catalysts to drive price action at the start of the year.
The pan-continental STOXX 600 index 
SXXP is down less than 0.1%, having closed out 2024 with a 6% rise.
Other major bourses are hovering either side of the unchanged mark with notable underperformance seen in France where the CAC 40 
PX1 is shedding 0.5%.
On a sector basis, oil & gas stocks (.SXEP) are leading as crude futures trade slightly higher and as Russian gas firm Gazprom halted gas exports via pipelines running through Ukraine after Ukraine refused to renew a transit agreement.
Europe's top gainers include oil & gas producer Equinor 
EQNR and Frontline 
FRO, which focuses on seaborne transportation of crude oil and refined products.
Autos (.SXAP) and luxury (.STXLUXP) sectors are laggards.
Here's your opening snapshot:
(Samuel Indyk)
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THURSDAY'S OTHER LIVE MARKETS POSTS:
EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: FUTURES SIGNAL POSITIVE START TO 2025 CLICK HERE
MARKETS USHER IN 2025 WITH TRUMP TREPIDATION CLICK HERE