Europe's main stock markets close lower
20-12-2008
Europe's main stock markets closed lower, as the energy sector took a hit from plunging crude oil prices and the banking sector suffered ratings downgrades from Standard & Poor's.London's Footsie 100 index fell 1 percent; while in Paris the CAC 40 ended 0.26 percent lower;and the Frankfurt Dax plunged 1.26 percent.The European single currency fell to 1.389 dollars on growing fears about the eurozone economy. The yen rose against the US dollar, despite an interest rate cut from the Bank of Japan.
