European markets fall, Milan, Frankfurt, Paris post declines

(ANSA) – Milan, October 17 – European financial markets were Thursday, after gaining during the course of the trading session on an announcement the US Congress agreed to extend the American government’s debt limit.

Italy’s Ftse Mib index dropped 0.4% to 19.198 points. The yield spread between 10-year Italian bonds and the German benchmark equivalent, a barometer of Italy’s borrowing costs in the eurozone crisis, closed at 233 points up from 231 on Wednesday as 10-year yields at fell to 4.19% compared to 4.24%.

The Frankfurt Dax bourse dropped 0.4% to 8,811, while the Paris Cac 40 Index slightly declined 0.1% to 4,239 points. Madrid’s Ibex index advanced 0.4% to 9,918 points. London’s Ftse-100 stock market was unchanged at 6,576 points.