European equity markets also following a similar year-end theme

European stock indices are all lower, with UK's FTSE the only one higher on the day

Sound familiar? Well, that's the theme in European trading this week it seems. Here's the rundown so far today:

• Eurostoxx -0.18%
• Germany's DAX -0.24%
• UK's FTSE +0.15%
• France's CAC 40 -0.15%
• Italy's FTSE MIB -0.47%
• Spain's IBEX -0.35%

However, despite looking likely to end the year at record-highs, UK's FTSE index has had a relatively "poor" performance relative to major equity indices around the world. At current levels, it's set to end the year only with a 6.9% gain.