STOXX 600 set for small weekly rise
Luxury, autos, miners lead declines
Tullow Oil surges on Ghana tax exemption

Jan 3 Reuters European stocks dipped at the end of a holidayshortened week on Friday, with traders focussed on economic data for clues on the path of interest rates and potential changes in U.S. policies under a Donald Trump presidency.

The panEuropean STOXX 600 index was down 0.2 by 0922 GMT. But it is on course for a 0.7 rise for the week marked by light trading activity as traders returned from their New Year holidays.

Swiss stocks rose 0.2 in their first trading session of 2025. The German DAX dipped 0.3 and France39;s CAC 40 slid 0.6.

Chinaexposed sectors such as miners, luxury stocks and automakers came under pressure even after a Beijing official said the country would sharply increase funding from ultralong treasury bonds in 2025 to spur business investment and consumerboosting initiatives.

Investors have been worried about China39;s economy and a looming trade war with the U.S. ahead of Trump39;s presidential inauguration on Jan. 20.

U.S. stock markets recorded a strong showing in 2024, helped by optimism around artificial intelligence and the Federal Reserve39;s interest rate cuts.

The STOXX 600 also hit record highs last year, although concerns about a slowing European economy and political turmoil in Germany and France limited its gains.

Given the superstellar year for U.S. stocks in 2024, it39;s not surprising a bit more caution has…