European shares falter as worst year since 2008 nears its end

MILAN (Reuters) - European shares fell on Monday as worries over a prolonged government shutdown and the position of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell added to angst about slowing economic growth, keeping stocks set for their biggest yearly loss in a decadeActivity was thin, however, with many markets closed or trading for a half-day only before the Christmas holiday.Britain's FTSE 100 was down 0.5 percent, while France's CAC and Spain's IBEX eased 1.45 percent and 0.9 percent..