LONDON - Britain's blue-chip share index fell 2.61 percent to its lowest closing level in six weeks, dragged lower by commodity stocks as the firmer dollar hurt metal and crude prices. The FTSE 100 closed 115.94 points lower at 4,326.01, breaking an uptrend channel extending back to March 9. Volumes on the British benchmark were about 76 percent of its 90-day average daily volume.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares closed lower, with financials the main drag as the European Central Bank (ECB) said euro zone banks may face further write-downs, while commodity stocks fell as crude and metal prices retreated. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares closed 2.5 percent lower at 863.34 points. The market has rallied around 33 percent since reaching a life-time low in early March.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROpean markets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 4,889.94 points, down 179.3 or 3.54 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,219.58 points, down 106.56 or 3.20 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 5,400.15 points, down 121.69 or 2.20 percent.

MILAN - The FT Italian All Share index closed at 20,462.50, down 544.95 or 2.59 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei stock average fell 0.95 percent, dragged lower by chipmakers after disappointing guidance from a US peer and as investors booked profits after the Nikkei hit an eight-month high last week. The Nikkei shed 96.15 points to 10,039.67 after closing at 10,135.82 on Friday, its highest close since early October.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Shares shed 2.07 percent, snapping a three-session winning streak, knocked down by lower energy prices and profit taking after the main index hit a nine-month high last week. The benchmark Hang Seng Index was down 390.72 points at 18,498.96, after hitting a nine-month high above 19,000 points on Friday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Shares fell 0.75 percent, held down by resource companies amid lower commodity prices and as major capital raisings drained cash from the market. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 30.5 points to close at 4,031.7.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - Stocks slid for a third session as weaker metal prices dragged down commodity sharesand Lonmin tumbled after it shut its No. 1 furnace due to a production incident. The All-share index closed at 22,618.89 points, down 296.17 or 1.29 percent.