European stocks close Thursday on negative side

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - Re-escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine hit European markets on Thursday.

On Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia is preparing to attack Ukraine "in the coming days," though Moscow has denied these claims.

The STOXX Europe 600, which includes around 90% of the market capitalization of the European market in 17 countries, lost 3.22 points, or 0.69%, to close at 464.55 points on Monday.

The UK's FTSE 100 index ended at 7,537.37, slightly down 66.41 points, or 0.87%.

Germany's DAX 30 was down 0.67%, or 102.67 points, to reach 15,267.63 points.

France's CAC 40 decreased 0.26%, or 18.16 points, to 6,946.82 points.

Italy's FTSE MIB was down 300.05 points, or 1.11%, to close at 26,669.27 points, while Spain's IBEX 35 lost 66.1 points, or 0.76%, to reach 8,671.1 points.

Turkiye's BIST 100 index closed at 2,009.99 points, down 1.54%.

Stock markets in Asia ended Thursday with slight gains, mostly, after the release of the Federal Reserve's minutes from its last meeting.