DAX: 3,374.10 (-23.26)

German shares ended down and near the session lows as traders took some profits ahead of the weekend amid concerns about a possible Federal Reserve interest rate hike next month.

Traders had correctly predicted that the market would remain under pressure in afternoon dealings but within a defined range and also at the whim of Wall Street dealings.

CAC-40: 2,536.26 (-3.57)

The Paris Bourse slipped in nervous early trading, following publication of an opinion poll showing the French right as winning the impending elections by only a small margin.

That poll concerned financial circles which had been confident early in the week that there would be a comfortable margin.

The Italian markets were closed for a bank holiday yesterday.