The Pound struggled on the prospect of acrimonious Brexit talks and doubts about whether the Conservatives – the party generally favoured by the markets – will win the UK General Election on June 8 quite as easily as once thought likely.
Elsewhere, the Dollar lost ground as US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East failed to draw attention away from his domestic political problems. That led to a climb in the Euro against the US currency as Euro-Zone finance ministers prepared to meet in Brussels to discuss Greece’s debt yet again.
The price of crude oil was in the news again too as it climbed on increasing confidence that the major exporters will agree to extend their curbs on supply.
Among the companies moving in Europe Clariant is up 7% on news of a merger between the Swiss company and Huntsman Corporation.
Insurer Aegon hit the top of the European benchmark, up by 8 percent, after agreeing to sell some U.S. businesses to boost its balance sheet.
