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Jan 8 (Reuters) - European shares dropped on Wednesday as an
Iranian missile strike on U.S. forces in Iraq saw investors
fleeing risk assets amid rampant fears of a military escalation
in the Middle East.
The recent strike raises the question of retaliation by the
United States, with a statement from U.S. President Donald Trump
expected later in the day.
Iran said the strikes "concluded" its response to the U.S.
killing of one of its top military commanders last week.
The pan-European STOXX 600 equity index .STOXX was down
0.5% by 0807 GMT, with German stocks .GDAXI leading declines.
The chemicals subindex .SX4P was the worst performer,
while oil and gas stocks .SXEP rose tracking higher crude
prices on the prospect of supply disruptions in the Middle East.
Planemaker Boeing's BA.N European suppliers, Senior Plc
SNR.L and Safran SAF.PA , fell after a Boeing 737 belonging
to Ukraine International Airlines crashed after taking off in
Iran.