2010 is certainly a year eurozone economies would like to forget. From massive bailouts, to uncertainty about the single currency's future, Europeans will be happy to start the new year. But before the year ends, let's have a look at how continental stock markets are performing just before Christmas.

The last day of trading on the German stock market before Christmas.

And traders were full of the festive spirit.

It seems there's reason for some cautious good cheer.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 Index is on track to post its best December performance in a decade.

And on December 23rd, the UK's FTSE closed just over the 6000 mark, its highest level since June 2008.

But traders like Oliver Roth say they aren't going home for Christmas completely happy.

He said, "As a stock exchange trader, I would wish for Christmas to have a calmer year in 2011, especially concerning the euro, because we had a lot of problems this year with the euro, and I hope it will be better next year."

But Daragh Maher, from Credit Agricole, is fairly positive on the euro.

He said, "For the eurozone as a project, I think it will survive through 2011, but the issue is what is the appropriate level for the exchange rate for the euro, and you know we are still operating at a level substantially above its average since it was conceived. And on that basis it seems rather peculiar, given the kind of strains we have in the peripherals, the kind of strains we have on sentiment."

Analysts like Daragh expect the markets to remain volatile after the Christmas break.

And with the eurozone debt crisis set to continue, traders and investors will also be following the euro closely during 2011.

People's Daily