DAX: 3972.55 (-77.59)

German shares ended near their lowest levels of the session as a weaker dollar and further losses on Wall Street dragged the market to its lowest level since the end of August. The IBIS DAX index, which represents computer trading in Germany's blue chips outside bourse hours, fell 3.4 per cent to 3,890.24. Earlier, the DAX ended floor trading 77.59 points lower at 3972.55.

CAC-40: 2843.60 (-30.97)

French shares closed lower but off their worst levels in a market mostly at the mercy of external factors. A weaker US market and a soft close overnight in Japan combined with a weaker dollar to keep the bourse in negative territory all day.

Mibtel: 14396 (-147)

Italian shares extended their losses to close about 1 per cent lower after US stocks fell on concern over the impact of the high dollar on earnings of US multinational companies. Investors were also selling telecoms shares to make room in their portfolios for the France Telecom sale.