Technology companies marked time after the previous day's sharp rises, although there were some exceptions. Nokia, for instance, added 6.6 per cent to €28.57.
German electronics and engineering group Siemens, which reported fourth-quarter results, was up as much as 5.6 per cent at one point but ended just 0.8 per cent higher at €74.21.
In the software sector, Deutsche Bank raised its target price for SAP from €150 to €190, following bullish statements about the industry from US software group Oracle. However, SAP's shares yesterday slipped 0.65 per cent to €153, having risen more than 20 per cent over the previous five sessions.
Cap Gemini went against the trend, shedding 5 per cent of its previous day's 10 per cent gain. It denied rumours that it was being courted by IBM. The shares closed at €84.60.
Thomson Multimedia fell 0.9 per cent to €34.50 after Schroder Salomon Smith Barney said it had placed 3.79 million of its shares at €34.30 each on behalf of Alcatel. Alcatel's shares rose 2.3 per cent to €22.46.
Aerospace group EADS, owner of 80 per cent of Airbus Industrie, was up 2.4 per cent to €14.11 on news that Lufthansa ordered 15 A380 jets.
A combination of weak traffic figures and stock overhang concerns sent airline stocks lower. Lufthansa fell 3.1 per cent to €15.70 and KLM 2.5 per cent to €13.80. Air France rallied from a session low of €16.20 to finish 0.2 per cent better at €16.60.
Food producers pushed lower amid talk of a big broker turning sceptical on the sector. Nestle gave up 2.3 per cent at SFr343 and Numico 4.4 per cent at €24.70.
Recent upbeat broker comment kept the buyers active among insurance stocks. Aegon added 2.6 per cent at €31.05, ING 0.8 per cent at €29.50 and Allianz 1.2 per cent at €274.15. Zurich Financial added 3.8 per cent at SFr460.
