Frankfurt DAX: 3,184.21 (+0.12)

German shares which had earlier ended flat, fell sharply by more than 1 per cent in post bourse electronic trading. Dealers said sentiment was still weighed on by the softening of the dollar.

Paris CAC-40: 2,567.85 (+5.01)

French shares finished barely higher after trading on a 20 point range during the day.

Traders said the market was still consolidating but falls were limited by buying on the first day of the new account. Dollar weakness against the deutschmark and softer bond markets also weighed on the market, which was otherwise livened by shares rises in Club Med, CLF-Dexia and AGF.

Club Med rose 21.24 per cent to 431 francs. CLF-Dexia added 4.92 per cent to 533. The Franco-Belgian bank said after the close it was buying 40 per cent of Crediop, a unit of Italy's San Paolo di Torion.

The Channel Tunnel operator said its bank syndicate had agreed to extend its debt standstill until December 14th.

Milan Mibtel: 12277 (-79)

Italian shares were marginally weaker.