But many markets rode waves of stimulus from a number of central banks toe award investors some of the best returns ever on the last day of the year.

It was something of a mixed picture, though.

Asian shares edged upset to end 2020 at record highs, with investors pinning hopes on a global economic recovery.

MSC is gauge of Asia Pacific shares excluding Japan, rose around not 0.18% on Thursday, heading towards its latest closing peak.

The index is set for its fourth quarter gain of over 19%.

But it was a different picture in Europe.

Shares fell as lockdowns overshadowed optimism around the rollout of vaccines.

Trading volumes within, with some major European markets closed for the new Year, where markets were open, they failed to follow their Asian peers higher.

The U.

K's Footsie 100 fell around 1.7%.

It's on course for its worst year since the 2000 and eight financial crisis on has suffered a fresh blow, a za millions more people have been put under the tightest restrictions to counter a new virus variant.

The pan European stock 600 which was closed on Thursday, recorded a 3.8% drop in 2020 as the pandemic and worries about Brexit curbed improving sentiment.

Germany's DAX, though, ended the year with a 3.5% gain.

It was helped by strong demand for technology stocks on better growth prospects, with major trading partner China one of 20 twenties major winners.

Bitcoin was at just under $29,000 on Thursday.

The world's largest crypto currency has almost quadrupled in value this year amid heightened interest from bigger investors.