European stocks set to open lower in holiday-thinned trade

LONDON — European markets are set to open lower in a holiday-thinned trading session on Monday with many markets still closed due to the Christmas festivities.

The Eurostoxx 50 futures indicated a lower open of 0.4% for Europe, with the German Dax sliding 0.4% and Spain's Ibex down 0.6%.

Market players have been juggling concerns over coronavirus restrictions and tighter central bank policy with signs that the heavily mutated omicron strain of the virus is milder than earlier variants like delta.

New studies in South Africa and the U.K. last week suggested omicron has a reduced risk of hospitalization and severe illness. In the U.K. over the weekend, infections were still topping 100,000, while France has also reported cases above that figure for the first time.

In Asia, shares were mixed in Monday trade, with multiple major markets in the region closed for holidays.

U.S. markets will be back open on Monday after the Christmas holiday, but the U.K. and Ireland will be closed for Monday and Tuesday.