DAX: 3,407.83 (-31.39)

German shares fell back, tracking the bond market and Wall Street. Volume thinned out during the day ahead of the Easter holiday which will keep the market closed until Tuesday. Daimler ended sharply lower following strong gains on Wednesday after good 1996 earnings data.

CAC-40: 2656.68 (+7.97)

Weakness on Wall Street and on the US bond market pulled back some early gains on the French market. Early in the day, the index was up one percentage point, boosted by the expiry of March futures and options contracts.

Traders said there was no appetite for big positions in advance of Easter holidays today and on Monday.

Mibtel: 12,024 (+51)

Despite a weaker lira, shares ended higher after the Italian cabinet approved the 1997 mini-budget. There was investor interest across blue-chip stocks. But gains started to fade in the early afternoon as US shares slipped and as the mini-budget was seen to comprise some stop-gap measures and non-structural changes.