LONDON - Britain's blue chip share index ended down 1.16 percent, as confidence of a quick global economic recovery ebbed, with commodity stocks down on weaker raw material prices but drugmakers and telecoms gaining. The FTSE 100 closed 50.11 points lower at 4,278.46, after putting on 0.1 percent on Tuesday to break a two-session losing run.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares fell for the fourth straight session amid doubts about a return to economic growth, which hammered commodity stocks, and with banks in the red on fresh concerns about US financial sector health. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares fell 1.9 percent to 845.76 points - its lowest close since May 15 - but remains up 1.7 percent year-to-date.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 4,799.98 points, down 90.74 or 1.86 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,161.14 points, down 52.81 or 1.64 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 5,302.29 points, down 74.81 or 1.39 percent.

MILAN - The FT Italian All Share index closed at 19,732.24, down 571.91 or 2.82 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei stock average edged up 0.9 percent, with Sanyo Electric surging after saying it had secured buyers for its batteries used in hybrid cars. The Nikkei rose 87.97 points to close at 9,840.85.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Chinese stocks rose 1.23 percent in light turnover, led by a surge in property shares, with China Vanke jumping nearly its 10 percent daily limit on signs of strong real estate sales. The Hang Seng Index was down 80.90 points or 0.45 percent at 18,084.6.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Shares fell 1.47 percent to their lowest close since June 1, led by top miner BHP Billiton and banks as worries about the pace of the global economic recovery overtook relief that the recession had bottomed. The S&P/ASX 200 index finished down 58.4 points at 3,904.1, declining for the third straight day.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - Stocks sank to a one-month low as weaker metals battered miners, while poorer signals on the economy left the rand a touch lower but still in recent tight ranges against the dollar. The All-share index closed at 21,948.66 points, down 670.23 or 2.96 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,385.68 points, up 16.87 or 0.71 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 17,246.86 points, down 265.02 or 1.51 percent.