Il Nuovo Postiglione - European equities waver on economic gloom

In midday deals, Frankfurt equities fell 0.2 percent and Paris flatlined, while London won 0.3 percent.

Oil prices slid on fears of more painful Covid lockdowns in China that could ravage the Asian giant's energy demand.

The euro steadied against the dollar and yen.

- 'Grim picture' -

The eurozone's composite purchasing managers index (PMI), a key economic indicator, improved from 47.3 in October to 47.8 in November, S&P Global said.

However, activity languished under 50 -- signifying the fifth consecutive month of economic contraction as inflation spikes.

"The latest macroeconomic data from Europe continues to paint a grim picture," said City Index analyst Fawad Razaqzada.

"Flash manufacturing and services PMIs for France and Germany, and eurozone as a whole, remain in contraction territory.

"Although the PMI data still managed to beat expectations, that's only because we are seeing improvement from a very low base."

Britain's composite PMI was also fractionally higher, from 48.2 to 48.3 in November, but that marked the fourth straight contraction.

The news comes after the UK government recently confirmed that the nation's economy was in recession, with inflation sitting at a 41-year high.

The reading is "consistent with our view that the (British) economy is probably already in recession", noted Capital Economics analyst Ashley Webb.

Elsewhere, Asian stocks rose on hopes that the Federal Reserve will carry out smaller US rate hikes at its next few meetings after inflation cooled in the world's biggest economy.

But there is growing concern that a surge in China's Covid-19 cases will see officials impose more economically-damaging restrictions.

Wall Street on Tuesday enjoyed a timely rally thanks to healthy retailer earnings amid signs US consumers -- the economy's key driver -- remain resilient to higher borrowing costs and inflation.

Minutes from the Fed's policy meeting this month will be pored over when they are released Wednesday, with traders hoping for some insight into the bank's thinking on rates.

However, US trading volumes are likely to be muted ahead of Thanksgiving on Thursday.

Traders were also keeping tabs on protests at the world's largest iPhone factory as Foxconn workers grow increasingly angry at long-running Covid curbs.

- Key figures around 1200 GMT -

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.3 percent at 7,473.95 points

Paris - CAC 40: FLAT at 6,659.70

Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.2 percent at 14,401.20

EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.1 percent at 3,935.38

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.6 percent at 17,523.81 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.3 percent at 3,096.91 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: Closed for a holiday

New York - Dow: UP 1.2 percent at 34,098.10 (close)

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0315 from $1.0304 on Tuesday

Dollar/yen: UP at 141.45 yen from 141.23 yen

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.1938 from $1.1886

Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.39 pence from 86.69 pence

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 2.1 percent at $79.22 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 2.3 percent at $86.32 per barrel

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D.Ricci--INP