LONDON - Britain's leading share index lost 1.2 percent as a weak US housing report and cautious comments from the Bank of England governor raised investor concern over the pace of economic recovery.

At the close, the FTSE 100 was 60.1 points lower at 5,079.27, finishing below the 5,100 level for the first time in over a week.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROFIRST

EUROPE - European shares hit a two-week closing low, led by banking and energy stocks, on weaker US housing data and after major central banks said they were scaling back some emergency lending facilities.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares provisionally ended 1.8 percent down at 987.37 points, the lowest closing level in more than two weeks, after trading in a wide range of 986.2 to 1,006.73 points.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:EUROmarkets

FRANKFURT - The DAX index ended at 5,605.21 points, down 96.84 or 1.7 percent.

PARIS - The CAC-40 index closed at 3,758.36 points, down 63.43 or 1.66 percent.

ZURICH - The Swiss market index closed at 6,275.44 points, down 74.39 or 1.17 percent.

MILAN - The FT IT All Share index closed at 23,440.49 points, down 264.4 or 1.12 percent.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:nikkei

TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei average rose 1.7 percent to a one-month closing high, lifted by exporters such as Kyocera as investors played catch-up after returning from a string of public holidays.

The Nikkei gained 173.68 points to 10,544.22, its highest finish since August 26. It slipped 0.7 percent last week.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:hang seng

HONG KONG - Hong Kong shares ended lower as index heavy weighted banks such as HSBC and China Construction Bank fell, while new listing Metallurgical Corp. of China dived, hiting sentiment.

The Hang Seng Index fell 2.52 percent to 21,050.73, the lowest close since September 15.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:asx

SYDNEY - Australian stocks lost 0.7 percent, as miners such as BHP Billiton dropped in the wake of lower metal prices, while a cautious outlook from David Jones weighed on retail stocks.

The S&P/ASX 200 index lost 32.9 points to 4,701.2 points, after rising 1.5 percent on Wednesday.

@MARKET ROUNDUP:south africa

JOHANNESBURG - South African stock markets were closed yesterday for Heritage Day. On Wednesday the All-share index closed at 25,362.93 points, down 93.18 or 0.37 percent.