LONDON - Britain's top shares closed flat as concerns over economic recovery after weak data from Japan offset firmer miners, led up by Vedanta Resources which made its play for a controlling stake in Cairn India. The FTSE 100 closed at 5,276.1 points, up 0.66 or 0.01 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares ended flat, with stronger miners and retailers offset by weaker banks as data from both Japan and the US cast further doubt about the economic recovery.

Trading volume for the benchmark FTSEurofirst 300 index of leading European shares was barely 50 percent of the 90-day average.

The index fell 0.02 percent to close at 1,045.47 points, having moved in and out of positive territory during the day. In the year to date the index is also flat, with a rally which kicked in after it hit a lifetime low in March 2009 having stalled.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 6,110.57 points, up 0.16 or zero percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,597.6 points, down 13.31 or 0.37 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,285.66 points, down 8.68 or 0.14 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 20,915.83 points, down 53.72 or 0.26 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average fell 0.6 percent after data showed Japan's economy slowed sharply in April to June from the previous two quarters as export growth moderated and a stimulus-driven recovery in consumption ran out of steam. The Nikkei shed 56.79 points to 9,196.67, its lowest finish since July 1.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Hong Kong stocks ended slightly higher, helped by defensive sectors like telecommunications and utilities, but gains were tempered by weak local property shares. The Hang Seng Index finished up 0.19 percent at 21,112.12.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Australian stocks fell 0.47 percent, weighed down by banks and miners, but came off session lows after strong gains in some stocks that pleased with their earnings, as well as takeover target AWB. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 21 points to 4,438.5. The index posted a 1.3 percent gain on Friday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's rand firmed against the dollar partly due to increased inflows into the bond market while the domestic stock exchange edged higher led by miners on firmer metal prices.

The All-share index closed at 27,583.09 points, up 56.86 or 0.21 percent.