LONDON - Britain's top shares were lower on Tuesday as investors nervously awaited the outcome of the US Federal Reserve's latest monetary policy meeting and commodity shares were hit by demand concerns following weak Chinese data.

At the close, the FTSE 100 index was down 34.11 points, or 0.6 percent, at 5,376.41, having ended at its highest close since May 13 on Monday.

Miners were big fallers, retracing Monday's gains as base metal prices fell on demand concerns after weak Chinese imports data yesterday, and ahead of Chinese inflation numbers due today.

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FRANKFURT - German stocks retreated from the highest level in almost two years as the US Federal Reserve met to decide whether the economy needs additional stimulus.

The benchmark DAX Index lost one percent to 6,286.25 at the 5.30 p.m. close of trading in Frankfurt, trimming yesterday's 1.5 percent advance. The gauge has climbed 71 percent since March 2009 as governments and central banks worldwide used so- called quantitative easing measures to support the economy.

PARIS- France's CAC 40 Index fell 0.6 percent to 3,755.38 at 1.31 p.m. in Paris, paring Monday's gain. The broader SBF 120 Index also declined 0.6 percent to 2,775.98.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index climbed 3.28 points (0.05 percent) to 6,395.02.

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TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 0.2 percent.

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HONG KONG - Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index lost 1.5 percent with 38 of the measure's 40 stocks declining.

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SYDNEY - Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Index sank 1.2 percent following a National Australia Bank survey that showed business confidence in July slipped to the lowest level in more than a year.

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JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's Johannesburg All Share Index fell 364.42 points (1.29 percent) to 27,917.7.