Iseq falls slightly in busy trading

The Iseq finished down just 5.78 points, or 0

The Iseq finished down just 5.78 points, or 0.1 per cent, at 6,145 points in a day of reasonable trading activity as 40 million shares changed hands.

UK stocks fell, led by energy companies including Royal Dutch Shell Plc and BG Group Plc as crude oil fell more than $1 a barrel in New York.

Royal Dutch Shell, Europe's biggest oil company, slid the most in two months after crude retreated from a record above $135 a barrel amid signs that a 16 per cent run-up in prices this month isn't justified by stockpiles and demand.

The FTSE 100 closed down 0.3 per cent at 6,181, its lowest closing level in three weeks.

European shares ended higher, lifted by telecom and mining stocks, while German banks gained on consolidation speculation and the dip in crude oil lowered energy stocks.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares ended 0.33 per cent higher at 1,345.11 points, as telecoms contributed most to the index.

In Frankfurt, the DAX ended at 7,070.33 points, up 29.5, or 0.42 per cent. In Paris, the CAC-40 index closed at 5,028.74 points, up 1.19 or 0.02 per cent.

The Nikkei in Tokyo closed 52.16 points higher at 13,978.46.