By Jack Barnett European stocks have notched their worst annual performance in four years driven by investors sweating over soaring inflation, rising interest rates and the prospect of a tough recession in the bloc. The pan-European Stoxx 600, an aggregate of Europe’s top indexes, finished 2022 down nearly 13 per cent, its biggest annual decline since a drop of just over 13 per cent in 2018. Some of the continent’s largest indices have registered double digit stumbles this year. Germany’s Dax fell over 12 per cent, while France’s Cac 40 lost over 9.5 per cent. Meanwhile, London’s FTSE 100 has …