Lockdown worries, oil drag European stocks lower

European stocks slid on Friday, erasing a large part of the weekly gains, after France imposed fresh regional lockdowns to curb the spread of the coronavirus amid signs of slowing vaccination in some countries.

The pan-European STOXX 600 fell 0.6 per cent by 0809 GMT, tracking a dour session on Wall Street overnight after U.S. bond yields surged.

France's CAC 40 was down 0.7 per cent after the nation imposed a new four-week lockdown from Friday in 16 regions badly hit by the health crisis.


Oil & gas, banks, and miners led the declines as the fresh lockdowns dampened hopes of a swift economic rebound.

Shares in BP, Royal Dutch Shell and Total fell between 1.8 per cent and 2.9 per cent after crude prices plunged almost 7 per cent overnight on fears the new lockdowns will hurt fuel demand.