LONDON - Britain's top shares hit a 10-month closing low as downbeat data from the US, China and Britain sparked double-dip recession fears, triggering a broad sell-off, with banks and miners the hardest hit.

The FTSE 100 fell 111.12 points, or 2.3 percent, at 4,805.75 - its lowest close since September 3, 2009.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares fell for a third consecutive session to hit a five-week closing low, as worries over the global economic recovery intensified after US jobless, home sales and factory data disappointed.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares closed down 2.4 percent at 969.21 points.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,857.43 points, down 108.09 or 1.81 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,339.9 points, down 102.99 or 2.99 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 5,981.66 points, down 146.4 or 2.39 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 19,489.44 points, down 379.96 or 1.91 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average fell two percent, breaking a key support to hit a seven-month closing low, with market players citing a rise in risk avoidance underscored by falls on Wall Street, a higher yen and slower China manufacturing growth.

The Nikkei shed 191.04 points to 9,191.6, its lowest close since late November.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - The Hong Kong stock market was closed for a public holiday. On Wednesday, the Hang Seng index closed down 0.59 percent or 119.91 points to 20,128.99.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Australian shares fell 1.5 percent to close at an 11-month low as banks and miners dropped on global growth doubts. Reports of a compromise on Australia's mining tax helped stem the slide.

The S&P/ASX 200 index lost 64 points to close at 4,237.5, falling for the eighth straight day.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's rand weakened to three-week lows against the dollar as global markets fell broadly and after a decline in the purchasing managers'(PMI) index pointed to a sluggish recovery in the local economy.

The All-share index closed at 26,009.53 points, down 249.29 or 0.95 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,487.64 points, down 83.57 or 3.25 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 20,853.55 points, down 256.33 or 1.21 percent.