German stocks closed floor trade with the DAX index marginally down from Tuesday's closed after a lacklustre session. Dealers said sentiment was stifled by the US 4th of July holiday today and lower German debt prices.

Paris CAC-40: 2113.98 (+2.18)

French stocks eked out a small gain but closed off their highs after a rise in US May factory orders drove Wall Street lower. Paris traded range bound for most of the day, with investors focused on the US Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, which ended after the market closed, to see whether US rates will be increased.

Milan Mibtel: 10471 (+16)

Italian share ticked upwards in afternoon trading, helped by a rebound at Olivetti.

Investor attention was focused, however, on the Fed meeting on interest rates and Italian inflation figures for June due for release today.