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Dec 15 (Reuters) - European shares were trading flat on
Tuesday as rising COVID-19 cases forced tighter curbs across the
continent, denting optimism from vaccine roll-outs and hopes of
an eventual Brexit trade deal.
A new variant of the coronavirus has been identified in
London, which may have partly contributed to increased infection
rates, forcing the government to enforce the highest tier of
restrictions in the city. Italian media reported the government could decide to put
the country under partial lockdown from Dec. 24 to at least Jan.
2, while in France, the number of people hospitalised for
COVID-19 rose for the third day, just as the country planned to
relax its lockdown. After a strong session on Monday, the pan-European STOXX 600
index .STOXX barely moved as investors weighed the prospect of
restrained economic activity stalling any kind of recovery.
Banks .SX7P lead losses, while automakers .SXAP , miners
.SXPP and energy shares .SXEP led gains.