European stock markets mixed

European stock markets have closed with mixed results this evening, as the US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner visits the Eurozone ahead of the Summit of EU Leaders this Friday.

Mr Geithner said the world was watching European leaders as they grapple with the eurozone debt crisis but welcomed what he called "encouraging" signs.

He said he was "very encouraged by developments in Europe in the past two weeks, including reform commitments in Italy, Spain and Greece".

Earlier, Eurozone nations hit back at a threat by ratings agency Standard & Poor's to downgrade 15 Eurozone countries.

Analysts say the controversial warning has upped the ante for what was already going to be a high-stakes summit on Friday.