UPDATE 2-European stocks ease from recent peak on global virus worries

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* Cyclical stocks lead losses, utilities support
* Norwegian Air tumbles on filing for bankruptcy protection
* Euro zone economy expected to shrink 2.5% in Q4 - poll

(Updates to market close)
By Sruthi Shankar
Nov 19 (Reuters) - European stocks fell on Thursday as
investors feared another round of shutdowns due to soaring
coronavirus cases globally, with growth-linked cyclical stocks
leading losses across regional markets.
The pan-European STOXX 600 .STOXX closed 0.8% lower,
easing from an eight-month high hit earlier this week.
Miners .SXPP , travel .SXTP , oil and gas .SXEP and
banking .SX7P sectors that have rallied strongly in November
on positive COVID-19 vaccine data, shed almost 2%.
Media stocks .SXMP rose, while utilities .SX6P and tech
firms .SX8P posted minor losses.
U.S. stocks also slipped from all-time highs as New York
City's public schools called a halt to in-classroom instruction
in the latest major restriction to curb the spread of the virus.
"With infection and hospitalisation rates rising, and the
risk that current lockdown restrictions either remain in place,
or get extended into 2021, the probability that any economic
damage will become permanent is only likely to increase,"
Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets said in a
note.
Investors have been weighing the consequences of tighter
restrictions globally on economic growth against hopes of a
COVID-19 vaccine supporting a recovery.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde called on
EU leaders to end a potentially damaging budget impasse and
repeated a promise to keep monetary policy super easy.
A Reuters poll showed economists expect the euro zone
economy to shrink 2.5% this quarter after expanding a record
12.6% in the previous quarter.
Among individual stocks, ailing German conglomerate
Thyssenkrupp TKAG.DE fell 3.4% after it said it would need to
cut a further 5,000 jobs to ease the impact of the coronavirus
crisis on its businesses. Norwegian Air NORR.OL slumped 15.7% after it filed for
bankruptcy protection as it seeks to stave off collapse amid the
pandemic. Germany's HelloFresh HFGG.DE jumped 6.6% after its CEO
said the meal-kit delivery firm would expand its capacity to
supply U.S. diners by 50% by mid-2021. Debt-laden Spanish media firm PRISA PRS.MC surged 21.0%
after it said it had received an offer for El Pais daily and its
other media assets from Spanish businessman Blas Herrero.