Europe close: Stocks edge higher in quiet trading
European stocks edged up on Tuesday, although several of the Continent's bourses had already closed ahead of the Christmas holidays, even as investors kept an eye out for a possible deal in Spain on creating a new minority government.
By the end of trading, the Cac-40 in Paris was 0.02% higher at 6,030.49, while Spain's Ibex 35 was up 0.02% to 9,661.80.
Germany's Dax and the Italian FTSE Mibtel meanwhile were closed for trading.
The Stoxx 600 meanwhile was 0.14% higher to 418.86, with London-listed stocks making the biggest moves given the lack of trading in many of their Continental peers.
In Spanish news, investors were watching to see whether the country's Socialist PSOE party would give into demands from Catalan nationalist party ERC to free its jailed leader, Oriol Junqueras, following a controversial ruling from the European Court of Justice, a move that might win it ERC's support for a new government in Madrid.
Junqueras had been jailed for his role in helping to organise an illegal referendum on Catalan independence and subsequent declaration of secession.
Linked to the above, there was speculation that a new government might be agreed before the end of the year.
Still in Spain, on Monday afternoon, the country's tax authorities had ruled that the former leader of another Catalan nationalist party, Jordi Puyol of Junts per Cat, would not face any fines after having evaded €885,651 in taxes. His son was also absolved of any legal responsibilities for tax avoidance.