2017.11.2322:24:00UTC+00European Markets Flat Amid Weak Trading Volumes

European equities were relatively flat on Thursday, as investors priced in the latest in individual stock news, in the face of thin trading volumes internationally.

The pan-European STOXX 600 rose 0.02 percent provisionally, closing off its session lows. Sectors were pointing in different directions by the finish.

France's CAC 40 climbed 0.5 percent, while Britain's FTSE 100 and Germany's DAX closed lower, off 0.02 and 0.05 percent respectively.

Utilities dropped 0.40 percent and was the worst performing sector. Centrica plunged 15.49 percent after it announced that it lost 823,000 customers in four months.

EDF advanced 5.6 percent, which made it Europe's best performer, following reports that France's finance ministry was looking at various restructuring options for the utility company. One possible option is the spinning off of EDF's nuclear power-generation activities, according to a report from Reuters.

Basic resources outperformed, climbing 0.31 percent, as metal prices increased. The sector was under pressure in morning trade, as performance in Asia weighed on sentiment.

Telecommunications company Altice traded higher, which has created concerns in corporate-bond markets due to its large debt piles and weak revenues. Altice rose 3.9 percent following reports that it would sell its Dominican Republic business.

Thyssenkrupp reported record elevator orders, contributing to its highest order intake in five years. The company also announced that it still aims to sign a contract with Tata Steel in early 2018. Its stock bounced around four percent.