LONDON - London's top share index ended down 1.1 percent, hitting its lowest closing level in more than two months, as weakness in banks, oil producers and miners offset minor resistance in some defensives. The FTSE 100 closed at 4,140.23 points, down 46.77 or 1.12 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares fell for the fifth straight session to their lowest closing level in 10 weeks, as investors faced further signs that the pace of economic recovery will not be quick.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed 1.1 percent lower at 817.12 points. The fifth consecutive drop also marked the index's longest losing streak since mid-January.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 4,572.65 points, down 25.54 or 0.56 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,009.71 points, down 38.86 or 1.27 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 5,289.39 points, down 39.81 or 0.75 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 18,660.64 points, down 367.4 or 1.93 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average fell 2.4 percent to a six-week closing low, hurt by an unexpected slide in domestic machinery orders and as the yen rose to seven-week highs against the dollar on talk of more stimulus for the US economy. The Nikkei lost 227.04 points to 9,420.75, its lowest close since May 26.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Hong Kong shares dropped 0.8 percent in a third straight losing session, as talk swirled of the need for a second round of stimulus spending in the United States and a likely tightening of China's easy monetary policies. The Hang Seng Index finished down 141.2 points at a two-week low of 17,721.07.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Australian shares closed flat, recovering from early losses as investors bought some stocks that had become cheap in recent falls, including miner Rio Tinto and top banks. The S&P/ASX 200 index broke a three-day losing streak to finish up one point at 3,767.9.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's rand remained on the backfoot against the dollar, extending overnight losses as diminished risk appetite hit high-yield currencies. The All-share index closed at 22,014.05 points, up 133.41 or 0.61 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,261.23 points, up 18.83 or 0.84 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 17,729.67 points, up 123.28 or 0.7 percent.