LONDON - Britain's blue chip shares closed down 0.5 percent, after weaker than expected economic data in the US dragged equities lower, with oil producers and miners leading the losers. The FTSE 100 closed at 4,647.13 points, down 24.24 or 0.52 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares ended lower after staying in positive territory during most of the day, with investors selling stocks, following data showing the US services sector contracted more than expected in July.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed 0.6 percent lower at 934.47 points, hovering in a wide range of 931.11 to 946.7 points, after hitting a nine-month high on Monday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,353.01 points, down 64.01 or 1.18 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,458.53 points, down 17.84 or 0.51 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 5,911.91 points, down 27.87 or 0.47 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 21,485.03 points, down 16.29 or 0.08 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei stock average lost ground as investors took a breather after the index hit a 10-month high the day before, with Toyota Motors down after reporting a third straight quarterly loss. Fast Retailing dropped 3.5 percent after saying same-store sales at its Uniqlo casual clothing chain in Japan fell for the first time in nine months in July.

The Nikkei shed 1.2 percent or 122.48 points to 10,252.53, a day after rising to a 10-month high of 10,479.19 and also hitting a 10-month closing high.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Hong Kong and China shares dropped with Chinese bank stocks leading losses as speculation swirled about the likely steps China may undertake to rein in liquidity on the mainland.

The Hang Seng Index finished 301.66 points lower at 20,494.77.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Australian shares fell one percent as investors took a breather after a recent steep rally, turning more cautious ahead of key economic data at home and overseas in coming days.

The S&P/ASX 200 index lost 44.8 points to 4,264.5.

Stocks had ended at a nine-month closing high on Tuesday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's rand weakened against the dollar, weighed down mostly by worries the economy's recovery from recession will be sluggish, but prospects of a strike at power utility Eskom had little impact. The All-share index closed at 24,908.79 points, up 73.21 or 0.29 percent.