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Dec 28 Reuters European shares were subdued on Wednesday, while UK39;s FTSE 100 outpaced peers after a long Christmas holiday weekend as investors assessed Beijing39;s steps towards reopening its COVIDbattered economy.

The regionwide STOXX 600 was flat as of 931 GMT, while the FTSE 100 advanced 0.7 as commoditylinked and Chinaexposed stocks jumped in early trading. The UK market, which was closed for holidays since its halfday trading on Friday, is playing catchup, analysts said.

The FTSE 100 index has benefited this year from its exposure to commodities as prices of oil and base metals have rallied amid the RussiaUkraine war.

The UK index could end the year in positive territory despite the broad pressures on global equity markets, weighed down by rising interest rates, inflation, and the threat of recession, said Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor.

Miners jumped 1.0 as copper prices rallied on hopes of a demand recovery in the world39;s secondlargest economy after China further eased its stringent COVID curbs on Monday.

Londonlisted financials exposed to China such as insurer Prudential and HSBC added 2.6 and 1.3, respectively.

Meanwhile, STOXX 600 was headed for an annual loss of 12.2 as concerns about an economic recession due to…