Frankfurt DAX

The market was closed for the country's reunification holiday yesterday. Regular trading will resume today. On Wednesday, the market, like London, pushed to a new record, gaining 0.78 per cent.

CAC-40: 2136.09 (-5.75)

French stocks finished slightly lower as the bourse paused for breath after the previous day's strong gains.

Bonds were flat, and disappointment with half-year results at some companies weighed on the bourse's CAC40 index which closed 5.75 points down, representing a fall of 0.27 per cent.

The CAC-40 futures contract fell 13 points.

Mibtel: 10,299 (+1.51)

Italian shares ended an active session at the day's highs, boosted by surging Italian BTP futures and the lira which both peaked at new highs.

The Lira touched 989.80 against the D-mark, a new two-year high, and the December BTP future contract rose. The markets could even do a bit more, according to analysts.