LONDON — Britain's top share index fell as high oil prices and worries over US subprime mortgages dented sentiment but Whitbread and BSkyB sparkled. The FTSE 100 closed at 6615.1 points, down 15.8 or 0.24 percent.ROUNDUP:EUROFIRSTEUROPE — European stocks closed lower for a second consecutive session, weighed down by banks as concerns about the US high risk mortgage sector continued to rattle investors. Among major movers, bid talk boosted hotel and leisure firms, with Whitbread and Accor higher, while talk of interest from Arcelor Mittal buoyed France's Vallourec. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index closed down 0.36 percent, at 1,601.15 points. The index hit a fresh 6-[1/2] year high in the previous session.ROUNDUP:EUROpean marketsFRANKFURT — The DAX index ended at 7898.54 points, down 66.22 or 0.83 percent.

PARIS — The CAC-40 index closed at 6001.09 points, down 18.13 or 0.30 percent.

ZURICH The Swiss market index closed at 9214.39 points, down 33.99 or 0.37 percent.

MILAN — The All Share Mibtel index closed at 32890 points, down 148 or 0.45 percent.ROUNDUP:nikkei>TOKYO — Japan's Nikkei average slipped 1.11 percent to its lowest finish in nearly two weeks, hurt by a tumble in US stocks and a stronger yen. The Nikkei closed down 203.16 points at 18,049.51.ROUNDUP:hang sengHONG KONG — Hong Kong stocks halted a six-session record streak as sliding US equities prompted investors to book profits in China Construction Bank and other recent gainers. The Hang Seng Index closed down 278.82 points, or 1.22 percent, at 22,607.02.ROUNDUP:asx<.5b0>SYDNEY — Australian shares fell 0.6 percent as growing problems in the US subprime mortgage sector weighed down on US-exposed Macquarie Bank, while mining firms fell on weaker base metal prices. The S&P/ASX 200 index lost 36.4 points to close at 6,325.1.ROUNDUP:south africaJOHANNESBURG — South African stocks marched higher as a weaker rand and buoyant global demand boosted diversified miners and a brighter start on Wall Street lifted broader sentiment. The All-share index climbed 0.65 percent to 29,643.36 points. The All Gold index closed at 2588.91 points, down 15.97 or 0.61 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 20071.95 points, up 41.39 or 0.21 percent.