European shares were steady on Tuesday, after the benchmark index hit a new record high in the previous session, as investors remained cautious in the final week of the year.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.1% to 589.86 points, hovering near its all-time high.
The German DAX index settled at 24361.59 points, the British FTSE index settled at 9874.23 points, and the French CAC index settled at 8109.20 points.
As 2025 draws to a close, the benchmark index is expected to record strong gains on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis.
Basic resources stocks led the gainers on the Stoxx 600 index, rising 1.04%, as silver and gold prices stabilized after a sharp decline from record highs.
Bank stocks also rose by 0.7%, while the aviation, space and defense sector rose by 0.2%.
In contrast, shares in the healthcare and consumer goods sectors were the main driver of the decline, falling by 0.1% and 0.2% respectively.
Trading is expected to be subdued this week due to its brevity following the New Year holiday. With limited corporate news and few catalysts scheduled to drive market direction, markets will focus more than usual on the minutes from the Federal Reserve's December meeting, due for release later today.
