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Important information: The value of investments can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. Investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. This is a third-party news feed and may not reflect Fidelity’s views.

Europe open: Shares up on quiet day; Atos slumps on cash flow warning

(Sharecast News) - European shares made a subdued start to the week with a quiet day expected due to the Martin Luther King holiday in the US, although French IT firm Atos was in focus after a warning on cash flow and appointment of a new chief executive. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was up 0.17% at 477.56 in early deals with all major regional bourses higher. Investors will also be keeping an eye on the annual corporate talkfest at Davos, Switzerland.

In economic news, China kept a key lending rate unchanged, leaving the rate for one-year loans to financial institutions, or medium-term lending facility, at 2.5%.

Oil prices were lower after US military strikes on Yemen aimed at Iran-back Houthi militants who have been firing on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Benchmark Brent crude was down 0.2% to $78.13.

In equity news, shares in Atos plunged by 14% after the French technology company warned that free cash flow would be slightly below its initial target for the second half of the year. It also named Paul Saleh as its new chief executive.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com

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Important information: This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice. When you are thinking about investing in shares, it’s generally a good idea to consider holding them alongside other investments in a diversified portfolio of assets. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

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