Stocks struggle in thin trade
Euro zone factories ended last year on sour note, PMI
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Jan 2 Reuters European stocks wavered on the first trading session of 2025, after a lateyear selloff that was driven by concerns about high valuations and policies under incoming U.S. President Donald Trump.

The panEuropean STOXX 600 index dipped 0.2 by 0946 GMT, reversing modest opening gains as trading volumes were light with investors still returning from their New Year holidays.

Europe39;s oil and gas sector rose 1 as crude prices , nudged higher following a pledge by China39;s President Xi Jinping to promote growth. China is the world39;s top crude importer.

Banks and automakers led sectoral declines, with losses of more than 1.5.

The benchmark STOXX 600 suffered its worst quarterly drop in more than two years from October to December, weighed down by uncertainty around interest rates and the Trump administration39;s policies that several market participants fear will boost inflation.

Still, the index clocked a roughly 6 gain in 2024, which was, overall, a positive year for stocks. The U.S. market, in particular, jumped to alltime highs due to optimism about the adoption of AI and the Federal Reserve39;s interest rate cuts.

The STOXX 600, too, hit a record high last year but lagged the SP 50039;s 23.3 surge, as a slowing European economy and political turmoil in Germany and France weighed on the sentiment.

A survey…