BU: European shares dip, hold near highs on stimulus hopes
European shares eased today as falls in defensive stocks outweighed gains by miners, with the main index holding close to multi-month highs on hopes of stimulus measures from the US and China following weak data.
The FTSEurofirst 300 was down 1.83 points, or 0.2 percent, at 1,104.89, having hit a 13-month intraday high on Friday on enthusiasm over the European Central Bank's bond-buying plan.
In Asia, Japan's Nikkei average closed flat, with losses from exporters hurt by a strong yen cancelling out gains for China-related firms boosted by the country's infrastructure drive. The Nikkei ended down 0.03 percent at 8,869.37. The broader Topix added 0.3 percent to 737.34.
