LONDON - A retreat in miners offset strength from banks, supported as Bank of America said it would repay bailout funds, to leave Britain's top share index down 0.3 percent by the close.
The FTSE 100 closed 14.39 points down at 5,313.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST
EUROPE - European shares closed lower after data showed the US services sector unexpectedly contracted in November, with miners tracking a retreat in gold prices from record highs.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares closed 0.1 percent lower at 1,014.2 points.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets
FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,770.35 points, down 11.33 or 0.2 percent.
PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,799.11 points, up 3.19 or 0.08 percent.
ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,444.08 points, up 57.54 or 0.9 percent.
MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 23,045.47 points, up 36.96 or 0.16 percent.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei
TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average climbed nearly four percent to hit its highest close in five weeks as exporters such as Canon jumped on a weaker yen, while metal shares climbed after gold hit a new record. In active trade, the Nikkei jumped 3.84 percent or 368.73 points to 9,977.67, its highest finish since October 30 and well above its 25-day moving average around 9,700.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng
HONG KONG - Stocks extended recent strength, ending up 1.19 percent for a fourth consecutive day of gains, with banks and Chinese property shares leading the rise. The Hang Seng Index rose 264.3 points to end at 22,553.87.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx
SYDNEY - Stocks rose 0.26 percent, with miners and retailers offsetting a fall in top home lender Commonwealth Bank of Australia, as it held back from matching the central bank's rate hike. The S&P/ASX 200 index ended up 12.2 points at 4,774.6 points.
@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's rand held firm against the dollar for most of yesterday's session, helped by a good risk appetite, but retreated in later trade as gold dipped and the euro lost ground versus the greenback.
The All-share index closed at 27,314.09 points, down 115.67 or 0.42 percent.
The All Gold index closed at 2,714.35 points, down 29.74 or 1.08 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 20,992.86 points, down 65.31 or 0.31 percent.
