After Europe mining stocks’ humbling year, five themes for 2019

It all started so well in 2018 for investors in European metal and mining stocks, but as the year closes out, the sector index is languishing about 25% below its June peak.

Fractious trade-war rhetoric between Washington and Beijing, plus growing worries about the state of China’s economy undid the good work of the first half. And there are plenty of signs that these worries will remain top of mind for traders in 2019.