LONDON - Britain's leading share index gained 0.18 percent lifted by a rally from heavyweight energy issues led by BP after its forecast-beating third-quarter results, which offset weakness in banks and mining stocks. At the close, the FTSE 100 was 9.23 points higher at 5,200.97, after ending 50.83 points lower on Monday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares closed higher after a volatile session, with index heavyweight BP leading energy shares up as its results beat forecasts, although US economic data limited gains. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares rose 0.3 percent to close at 999.64 points, after falling for three straight days.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,635.02 points, down 7.14 or 0.13 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,743.95 points, down 0.5 or 0.01 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,367.97 points, up 64.62 or 1.03 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 23,321.16 points, down 187.88 or 0.8 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average lost 1.45 percent, its biggest one-day percentage fall in three weeks, as trading houses fell after oil slid and Astellas Pharma was hurt by a brokerage downgrade. The Nikkei lost 150.16 points to 10,212.46 and marked its biggest one-day percentage drop since October 2.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Shares retreated from a 14-month high, as investors pocketed recent gains on Wall Street, while local developers slumped after the government moved to curb rising property prices. The Hang Seng Index fell 1.86 percent, or 420.14 points, the worst one-day drop in more than three weeks, to 22,169.59.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Stocks retreated 1.59 percent, led lower by miners and energy firms as commodities prices weakened, with some analysts flagging the possibility of further declines. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 76.8 points to close at 4,753.5, adding to losses of 0.6 percent on Monday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - The rand fell to a three-and-a-half week low against the dollar after the National Treasury announced easier exchange controls and local stocks fell as lower metal prices weighed. The All-share index closed at 26,518.72 points, down 391.36 or 1.45 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,523.44 points, down 80.09 or 3.08 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 20,776.76 points, down 265.2 or 1.26 percent.