Paris. European shares looked set for a mixed opening on Monday as a broad rebound of the dollar and a dip in oil prices help bolster sentiment, but trade will likely be subdued with investors still in holiday mode.
Investors hope for more equity market gains in 2005, after two positive years, but strategists have warned that a cooling of the global economy and a structural fall of dollar could keep returns modest.
The London Stock Exchange, Europe's biggest equity market, will remain shut to mark the New Year holiday, with investors looking ahead to holiday sales data and a US jobs report on friday for clues on the economy's health going into 2005.
Tokyo's stock market was also closed for the New Year holiday.