LONDON - The UK's leading share index ended down 0.7 percent, with banks worst hit as US and European markets were knocked by fears that strong global growth would force interest rates higher around the world. The FTSE 100 closed at 6,520.4 points, down 47.1 or 0.72 percent.ROUNDUP:EUROFIRSTEUROPE - European shares ended lower, dragged down by losses in technology and banking stocks amid concern about higher interest rates.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed 0.53 percent lower at 1,574.07 points after breaking a five-day losing streak in the last session.

"This is still a controlled move and not yet a correction," Boris Boehm, head of equity fund management at Nordinvest, said, adding that the market had been overbought.ROUNDUP:EUROmarketsFRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 7,678.26 points, down 27.84 or 0.36 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 5,898.16 points, down 41.93 or 0.71 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 9,180.97 points, down 42.07 or 0.46 percent.

MILAN - The All Share Mibtel index closed at 32,646 points, down 98 or 0.30 percent.ROUNDUP:nikkei>TOKYO - The Nikkei average slipped 0.41 percent as shares of shipping firms and airlines fell on concern about higher fuel costs and investors took profits in Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance and other recent gainers. The Nikkei shed 73.57 points to close at 17,760.91.ROUNDUP:hang sengHONG KONG - Hong Kong stocks edged up 0.1 percent after investors bid up China Mobile amid a renewed focus on the prospect of 3G licences to spur a widely expected industry restructuring. The Hang Seng Index closed up 20.90 points at 20,636.39.ROUNDUP:asx<.5b0>SYDNEY - Australian shares nudged up 0.1 percent, handing back earlier gains as worries over higher interest rates globally weighed on banks, offsetting gains in the top miners on stronger base metal prices. The S&P/ASX 200 index edged up 8.3 points to end at 6,240.1.ROUNDUP:south africaJOHANNESBURG - South African stocks ended weaker as rising bond yields fuelled concerns about higher interest rates in the US, with media firm Naspers leading the country's blue-chips decline. The All-share index closed at 28,299.33 points, down 246.24 or 0.86 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,556.96 points, down 65.29 or 2.49 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 19,269.8 points, down 241.67 or 1.24 percent.