Wall Street slipped on Thursday as a contraction in manufacturing activity last month clouded data showing a mild easing in inflation and solid consumer spending. Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Europe’s Stoxx 600 index closed above a three-month high on Thursday, as investors cheered US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell’s hints of smaller interest rate hikes and China’s decision to soften its tone on strict Covid-19 restrictions. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index climbed 0.9 per cent to hit its highest since August 17th. It gained 6.8 per cent in November to log its best month since July. Technology stocks helped to boost...