LONDON - Britain's leading shares shed 0.3 percent as oils and miners fell back on lower commodity prices, while banks moved lower on investor caution ahead of first-quarter results in the US. The FTSE 100 closed at 5,761.66 points, down 15.99 or 0.28 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares fell, with energy companies sliding after sharp falls in the crude price and banking stocks down as investors grew cautious ahead of corporate earnings from the US.

However, luxury goods retailers and spirits companies gained after strong sales from LVMH.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares fell 0.3 percent to close at 1,098.56 points, having moved in a range of 7.89 points during the session, between a high of 1,102.76 and a low of 1,094.87.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 6,230.83 points, down 19.86 or 0.32 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 4,031.99 points, down 18.51 or 0.46 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,885.86 points, down 25.1 or 0.36 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 23,709.43 points, down 94.63 or 0.4 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average fell 0.81 percent, moving further away from last week's 18-month highs as a stronger yen led to profit-taking, while chip shares fell on wariness before tech bellwether Intel's earnings. In active trade, the Nikkei shed 90.67 points to 11,161.23.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Stocks fell for a second straight session, with currency-sensitive plays such as Air China slipping after Chinese President Hu Jintao said yuan appreciation is not imminent. The Hang Seng Index closed 0.16 percent or 34.64 points lower at 22,103.53.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

MELBOURNE - Stocks fell 0.7 percent, knocked by resources shares on worries that demand for metals and oil might not keep up with recent spikes in commodities prices. The S&P/ASX 200 index lost 32.6 points to close at 4,951.6, according to the latest data, down from an 18-month high close on Monday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South African stocks fell, due to heavy losses in mining shares as precious metals prices slipped, while the rand touched five-day lows against the dollar, largely taking its cue from euro weakness.

The All-share index closed at 28,941.83 points, down 268.26 or 0.92 percent.

The All Gold index closed at 2,260.32 points, down 71.03 or 3.05 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 22,431.36 points, down 91.42 or 0.41 percent.